The U.S. Census Bureau has released new data from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), which measures ongoing business conditions and future projections across the United States. The BTOS, which now includes information on businesses with multiple locations, is designed to complement existing economic surveys by gathering regular updates on revenues, employment, hours worked, and inventories.
The survey represents all employer businesses in the U.S. except for farms. It aims to provide timely and continuous data every two weeks, giving insights into key economic indicators at both national and local levels. The BTOS collects data that can show the effects of significant events such as natural disasters or economic downturns and help track recovery efforts.
The survey’s sample consists of about 1.2 million businesses divided into six panels, each containing roughly 200,000 cases. Each panel reports every 12 weeks over a year-long period. According to the Census Bureau, it takes an average respondent around nine minutes to complete the survey.
Data from BTOS will be published biweekly and will be available by sector, state, and for the 25 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country. In November 2025, new questions regarding artificial intelligence were introduced; results from these questions are expected in 2026. Survey findings are intended to support local, state, and federal officials with up-to-date information for policymaking while also helping businesses make informed economic decisions.
There was no formal news release issued alongside this announcement; instead, a tip sheet was provided.
