The U.S. Census Bureau has released new data from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), a program that monitors business conditions and forecasts across the United States. The BTOS, which now includes information from businesses with multiple locations, continues to gather key economic data such as revenue, employment figures, hours worked, and inventories.
This survey covers all employer businesses in the country except for farms. It aims to provide ongoing insights into the state of the U.S. economy by collecting and publishing detailed economic measures every two weeks. The continuous nature of this data collection allows for timely analysis of economic events, including natural disasters or financial crises, and helps track recovery efforts.
Approximately 1.2 million businesses participate in BTOS through biweekly data submissions. These businesses are divided into six groups of about 200,000 each, with each group reporting once every 12 weeks throughout the year. According to Census Bureau estimates, completing the survey takes respondents an average of nine minutes.
Data from BTOS will be available on a biweekly basis and broken down by industry sector, state, and for the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. In November 2025, new questions regarding artificial intelligence were added to the survey; results related to these questions are expected to be published in 2026. The findings are designed to support local, state, and federal officials with up-to-date information for policymaking as well as assist businesses in making informed economic decisions.
There is no news release accompanying this announcement; it is being provided as a tip sheet only.
