The U.S. Census Bureau released new data products from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) on April 9. The survey measures business conditions and projections, providing ongoing information about key economic indicators such as revenues, employees, hours, and inventories.
BTOS is designed to offer continuous and timely data that help officials at all levels of government make informed decisions about economic policy. By delivering biweekly updates with detailed geographic and industry breakdowns, the survey helps capture the effects of significant events like natural disasters or economic crises while also supporting efforts to monitor recovery.
According to the Census Bureau, BTOS represents all employer businesses in the United States except for farms. The sample includes around 1.2 million businesses divided into six panels of approximately 200,000 each; these panels are surveyed every twelve weeks over a year-long period. Respondents typically spend about nine minutes completing each survey round.
Data collected through BTOS will be published every two weeks by sector, state, and for the nation’s twenty-five most populous metropolitan areas. The Census Bureau added new questions related to artificial intelligence in November 2025; results from these questions are expected in spring 2026.
Survey findings provide essential real-time information that aids not only policymakers but also businesses seeking to make informed economic decisions.
