FAIRFIELD COUNTY — The deadline for Fairfield County businesses to respond to the 2012 Economic Census is Feb. 12.

Nearly four million businesses are required by law to complete the census, the U.S. Government’s official five-year measure of American business and the economy. Americans who own businesses, who have retirement savings or who take out mortgages on a home are affected by this census.

Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce President Terry Vickers said the information is used in geographical locations across the United States to show trends and that many businesses use this data when choosing whether or not to locate in an area.

“Manufacturers look at it to see how much product to produce and about trends,” Vickers said. “The census places information at one’s fingertips to do a comparative study anywhere across the nation.”

Bank policy, trade policies and other policies rely upon the data.

“The County works with large job creating. We work with more local mom and pop businesses, she said, but the census helps them too because when we work with a potential small business that owner can look into trends in the past (and plan accordingly),” Vickers said.

Businesses who need help with the forms or would like to file online can learn more at econhelp.census.gov. More economic census information can be found at business.census.gov.

A webinar will be presented at 1 p.m Jan. 24 to offer more instruction about the 2012 Economic Census and how to respond. Visit business.census.gov/webinar for more information.