The sample estimate and its standard error permit the construction of a confidence interval that represents the degree of uncertainly about the estimate. Each American Community Survey and Census 2000 Supplementary Survey estimate is accompanied by the upper and lower bounds of the 90 percent confidence interval. A 90 percent confidence interval can be interpreted roughly as providing 90 percent certainty that the true number falls between the upper and lower bounds.
Related terms: American Community Survey (ACS), Estimates (American Community Survey and Census 2000 Supplementary Survey), Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS), Standard error (ACS), Margin of Error (MOE)