The U.S. Census Bureau has released new data from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), which provides ongoing measurements of business conditions and projections across the United States. The survey includes data for businesses with multiple units or locations, aiming to complement information found in other economic surveys, such as revenues, employment figures, hours worked, and inventories.
The BTOS covers all employer businesses in the country except farms. Its purpose is to offer timely insights into the economy by collecting key economic measures every two weeks. This continuous collection of data at both geographic and subsector levels helps capture the effects of events like natural disasters and economic crises, while also supporting efforts to monitor recovery.
Approximately 1.2 million businesses are part of the BTOS sample, with biweekly data collection. These businesses are divided into six panels of about 200,000 each; each panel reports every 12 weeks over a year. According to the Census Bureau, completing the survey takes an average respondent around nine minutes.
Biweekly releases of BTOS data will be available by sector, state, and for the 25 largest metropolitan statistical areas. The results provide local, state, and federal officials with real-time information that can support policymaking and decision-making processes. Businesses may also use this information when making their own economic decisions.
No separate news release accompanied this announcement; only a tip sheet was provided.
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