The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal fact-finding agency for the federal government in the field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is an independent national statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes and disseminates essential statistical data to the American public, the U.S. Congress, other federal agencies, state and local governments, business and labor organizations. The BLS also serves as a statistical resource to the Department of Labor. In Europe, every country has its own statistics authority but, for members of the European Union, national data are also captured and collated by Eurostat.