What is a statistical purpose?

CIPSEA information may only be used for statistical purposes.

The term statistical purpose means the description, estimation, or analysis of the characteristics of groups without identifying the individuals or organizations that comprise such groups. This includes the development, implementation, or maintenance of methods, technical or administrative procedures, or information resources that support analytical, informational, or reporting objectives for which the identities of the specific persons, facilities, or companies are not material to the intended uses of the data.

Examples of the use of CIPSEA information for statistical purposes include: Estimating the sales, volumes, cost, or prices of products or commodities by geographic region, product type, or seller type. Building or modifying a survey frame file to estimate economic activity.