They group similar products into larger categories, but innovations in the economy have made those groupings woefully out of date. For the past several years, the Census Bureau has been developing more extensive product codes for services, and that effort is to be applauded. It is precisely the right response to a dynamic economy in which services have become much more important over time.
In addition, improving product codes for communications equipment and other high-tech components of manufacturing also should be given high priority. To illustrate, consider the product category "broadcast, studio, and related equipment."