The U.S. Census Bureau kicks off its 2007 economic census this week, sending out millions of forms asking companies about their staff and operations.

The survey — which asks questions about sales, revenues, payrolls, franchising, outsourcing, and benefits, among other categories — is the “cornerstone for economic data,” said Cynthia Glassman, undersecretary of the Department of Commerce during reporters during a Monday conference call. “The economic census is indispensable to understanding today’s economy.”