Operating seamlessly, safely stewarding sensitive data resources

The Federal statistical system provides the gold-standard for impartial, trusted Federal statistics, foundational to informing decisions across the public and private sectors. The Executive Branch, the Congress, businesses, and members of the public rely upon the Federal statistical system to provide objective, credible, and reliable data.

• On September 26, 2025, OMB published the 2026 schedule of release dates for Principal Federal Economic Indicators. For more information on this and OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 3, see the Policies page.
• The Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology is hosting its 2026 conference on January 28-29, 2026 for current federal employees, featuring presentations highlighting innovations and best practices supporting the production of high-quality, relevant, and timely federal statistics.

The Federal statistical system is guided by specific laws, policies, and guidance. These are foundational for the key responsibilities of the U.S. Chief Statistician and the Office of Management and Budget; statistical agencies, units, and programs; Statistical Officials; and agencies across the Federal Government.

The Federal statistical system collaborates on products to promote understanding of its initiatives, priorities, budgets, and activities, as well as on developing tools and resources to better support data users.

For questions about or assistance with completing a federal survey, connect with the federal agency conducting or sponsoring the survey. Click here to learn about the statistical agencies. Approved federal surveys are issued an official OMB control number, which must be visible on survey forms, or available by asking the interviewer.

Federal law requires agencies to have public inventories of data sets. Many are also listed on the federal government’s data catalog. To discover available data sets and apply for access to restricted and confidential data for evidence building, visit the Federal statistical system’s Standard Application Process and its growing data catalog.