The U.S. Census Bureau released new Business Formation Statistics for April 2026, according to a May 13 announcement. The data provide updated information on new business applications and formations across the United States and Puerto Rico.
These statistics are designed to offer timely insights into trends in business creation, which can help inform policymakers, researchers, and the public about economic activity related to entrepreneurship. The release is part of an ongoing effort by the Census Bureau to track business dynamics at both national and regional levels.
The full dataset includes twelve series—four related to applications and eight focused on formations—and is made available monthly with details broken down by nation, region, and state. For Puerto Rico, four monthly business application series are included as part of the standard BFS product. Both seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted data are provided.
According to the Census Bureau, these statistics were 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 formal news release accompanied this announcement; instead, it was distributed as a tip sheet.
