The U.S. Census Bureau recently released data from Phase 7 of the Small Business Pulse Survey that measures how businesses are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other events, like hurricanes.
Phase 7 includes the “cash on hand question” from other phases, as well as a new question about how the pandemic changed business practices, according to a release by the U.S. Census Bureau. This includes new or expanded digital technologies, management practice changes, new or improved goods or services and other changes to production or logistics.
“SBPS results are experimental data products and are subject to suppression based on overall response and disclosure avoidance thresholds,” the U.S. Census website states. “Data products may not meet some of the Census Bureau’s statistical quality standards.”
Also included in Phase 7 is information about workplace coronavirus vaccinations and testing requirements, supply chain issues, receipt of assistance, measures of well-being and expectations of recovery.
According to the Census website, the SBPS was put together to measure how business conditions have changed during the pandemic. It complements existing data from the Census Bureau with information on the challenges that small businesses are facing due to COVID-19. Data is available for the 50 most populous areas. The survey provides local, state and federal officials with data that helps in policy and decision-making, as well as helping businesses make economic decisions.
Weekly data is available at the national, sector, state and metropolitan statistical area (MSA) level for the largest MSAs and Puerto Rico through the SBPS interactive tool and downloadable files. Sector and subsector data are also available.
Data collection began Nov. 15. Results were be released Nov. 24 and every subsequent Thursday through this week.
Data available for Jan. 3-9 is now posted on the Census website at portal.census.gov/pulse/data/.
