Bureau of Economic Analysis

bea is an agency of the department of commerce. along with the census bureau and stat-usa, bea is part of the department's economics and statistics administration. bea produces economic accounts statistics that enable government and business decision-makers, researchers, and the american public to follow and understand the performance of the nation's economy. to do this, bea collects source data, conducts research and analysis, develops and implements estimation methodologies, and disseminates statistics to the public. bea is one of the world's leading statistical agencies. although it is a relatively small agency, bea produces some of the most closely watched economic statistics that influence the decisions made by government officials, business people, households, and individuals. bea's economic statistics, which provide a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the u.s. economy, are key ingredients in critical decisions affecting monetary policy, tax and budget projections, and busines