The U.S. Census Bureau released new Business Formation Statistics for February 2026, according to a March 11 announcement. The data provide updated information on new business applications and formations across the United States and Puerto Rico.
The release of these statistics is important because it offers timely insights into trends in business creation, which can help policymakers, researchers, and the public understand economic activity and potential growth areas.
The monthly dataset includes all twelve series—four related to business applications and eight to business formations—with coverage at the national, regional, and state levels. For Puerto Rico, four monthly business application series are included as part of the standard product. The statistics are available in both seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted formats.
These Business Formation Statistics are a standard product from the Census Bureau developed through research collaboration with economists from several institutions: the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the University of Maryland, and the University of Notre Dame.
No separate news release was issued with this announcement; instead, it was distributed as a tip sheet.
