U.S. Imports of Merchandise: Comprehensive United states Import data.

The United States may be said to have had an adequate set of import and export statistics only since 1821. During the years 1795-1801, import value figures were estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury and the figures for the years 1790-1794 and from 1802-1820 were apparently estimated many years later. In the case of exports, it was required by statute that the dollar value in the statistics should be the value reported by the master of the vessel on which the goods left the country, but it was common practice for the U.S. Collectors of Customs to adjust this reported value quite arbitrarily. By an Act approved February 1820, ``to provide for obtaining accurate statements of the Foreign Commerce of the United States,'' a provision was made for the preparation of statistical accounts of the commerce of the United States with foreign countries by the Register of the Treasury to show the kinds, quantities and values of all articles exported to and of all articles imported from each foreign country. These early and simple beginnings of foreign trade data have developed into the current comprehensive export and import statistical program. The statistics are used extensively by both the public and private sectors of the country.