The U.S. Census Bureau has published new data from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), which tracks ongoing business conditions and projections across the United States. The survey covers all employer businesses except farms and now includes information for multiunit or multilocation businesses.
According to the Census Bureau, the BTOS collects data every two weeks from a sample of about 1.2 million businesses. These are divided into six panels, with each panel asked to respond every 12 weeks throughout the year. On average, respondents spend nine minutes completing the survey, including reviewing instructions and providing answers.
The BTOS provides detailed economic data by sector, state, and for the 25 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country. This frequent reporting helps officials at various government levels monitor key economic indicators such as revenues, employment, hours worked, and inventories. It also enables analysis of how events like natural disasters or economic downturns affect different regions and sectors, supporting efforts to track recovery.
On November 17, 2025, new questions related to artificial intelligence were added to the survey; results from these will be available in 2026. The continuous release of this information is intended to support policymakers as well as business leaders in making informed decisions.
“There is no news release associated with this announcement. Tip sheet only,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
