The U.S. Census Bureau has released new data from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), which tracks business conditions and forecasts across the country. The BTOS covers all employer businesses in the United States except for farms, and includes information from multiunit or multilocation companies.
The survey gathers data on key economic measures such as revenues, employees, hours worked, and inventories. By collecting this information every two weeks, the BTOS aims to provide a timely snapshot of the state of the economy with details by geographic area and business subsector. This regular reporting allows analysts to observe how events like natural disasters or economic downturns affect businesses and to monitor subsequent recovery efforts.
Approximately 1.2 million businesses participate in the BTOS, divided into six groups of about 200,000 each. These panels are surveyed every 12 weeks throughout a year-long period. According to Census Bureau estimates, completing the survey takes respondents an average of nine minutes.
Survey results are published biweekly with breakdowns by sector, state, and for the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the country. The data is designed to support policymakers at all levels of government by providing real-time insights necessary for informed decision-making. Businesses also use these findings to guide their own economic strategies.
No formal news release was issued alongside this announcement; only a tip sheet was provided.
