The advance estimate for quarterly service sector revenue is up 1.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in the first quarter 2025 after a small downward revision to up 1.0 percent in the fourth quarter. Compared to the year-ago quarter, services revenues are up 5.6 percent.

The advance estimate for quarterly revenues in the first quarter 2025 in the information sector is down 3.4 percent on an unadjusted basis from the prior quarter, and the fourth quarter 2024 is revised an increment lower to up 5.8 percent. Compared to the first quarter 2024, information sector revenue is up 7.1 percent.

The Census Bureau quarterly services survey focuses on information and technology-related service industries. These include information; professional, scientific and technical services; administrative & support services; and waste management and remediation services. These sectors correspond to three NAICS sectors (51, 54, and 56). The Quarterly Services Survey produces estimates of total operating revenue and the percentage of revenue by class of customer.

These sectors fuel productivity gains and they include growth areas as well as industries sensitive to changes in the business cycle. These include four broad categories: (1) information industries; (2) professional, scientific, and technical services, (3) administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, (4) hospitals and nursing and residential care facilities.

The service sector is an important part of the economy but until the publication of the Quarterly Services Survey, information regarding the service sector had been even more scarce. The Commerce Department began publishing this report in September 2004. According to the Census Bureau, service industries (excluding retail and wholesale trade) account for nearly 55 percent of the nation's economic activity.