Describes where data for certain metropolitan areas has been suppressed due to disclosure concerns
Because of U.S. laws that preclude disclosure of confidential business data provided to the federal government, it is necessary for the U.S. Census Bureau to completely suppress data for certain metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) each year. These totals are shown in the Metropolitan Export database as ‘NA’. The totals for these MSAs have been folded into a category labeled "other metropolitan areas”.

Metropolitan export data that are suppressed each year are as follows:

2015: Three (3) MSAs were suppressed.
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Flagstaff, AZ
  • Yuma, AZ
2014: Three (3) MSAs were suppressed.
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Flagstaff, AZ
  • Yuma, AZ
2013: Export total for the Tuscaloosa, AL MSA was suppressed.

2012: Four (4) MSAs were suppressed.
  • Jacksonville, NC
  • Pascagoula, MS
  • Salisbury, MD
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
2011: Seven (7) MSAs were suppressed.
  • Anchorage, Alaska
  • Fairbanks, Alaska
  • Flagstaff, AZ
  • Jacksonville, NC
  • Lake Havasu City, AZ
  • Pascagoula, MS
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
2010: Five (5) MSAs were suppressed.
  • Decatur, IL
  • Fairbanks, AK
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Pascagoula, MS
  • Anchorage, AK
2009: Four (4) MSAs were suppressed.
  • Lawton, OK
  • Decatur, IL
  • Fairbanks, AK
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
2008: Four (4) MSAs were suppressed.
  • Decatur, IL
  • Fairbanks, AK
  • Mayaguez, PR
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
2007: Four (4) MSAs were suppressed.
  • Decatur, IL
  • Fairbanks, AK
  • Mayaguez, PR
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
2006: Two (2) MSAs were suppressed.
  • Decatur, IL
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
2005: No suppressed MSAs

For the 386 metro areas for which it is possible to release some export data, disclosure regulations still limit or prevent the release of much detail on foreign markets and the industry composition of exports. Manufactured product detail, even for the largest exporting MSAs, is limited to broad four-digit NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) categories. Information on market destinations, while generally more complete than data on product composition, is also subject to important disclosure-induced limitations. Disclosure-induced limitations, other than those for total exports, are shown as ‘D’.

Office of Trade & Economic Analysis, Industry & Analysis