The Department of Statistics expects to canvas some 1,500 businesses and organisations as part of its Annual Economic Activity Survey launched last week.

The department said that questionnaires were mailed to some businesses and organisations across 14 industrial groups in order to collect key economic information from the public and private sectors that buy or sell goods and services.

The data will help to measure the growth of the economy and develop a range of statistics used in comparing the economic performance of the industry.

?Support of the business and social community is vital to develop reliable and accurate data on the economy,? the Department of Statistics said adding that the reliable and relevant economic data will enhance the quality of decision making both in the public and private sectors.

The survey is being conducted under the Statistics Act 2002 which guarantees that all information provided by survey respondents will be kept confidential.

The survey will take place during the months of April and May 2006.

?Lunch and learn? sessions to allow data providers to ask questions about the survey and better understand the department?s role in collecting and disseminating survey data will be held at the department between noon to 2 p.m. on April 21 and 28.