The U.S. Census Bureau has released new data from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), which provides ongoing information about business conditions and future expectations across the United States. The BTOS gathers data from all employer businesses except farms, offering regular updates every two weeks on factors such as revenues, employment, work hours, and inventories.
The survey sample includes about 1.2 million businesses, divided into six groups of roughly 200,000 each. Each group is surveyed every 12 weeks over a year. According to the Census Bureau, it takes an average of nine minutes for respondents to complete the survey.
BTOS data is published biweekly with breakdowns by sector, state, and the nation’s 25 largest metropolitan areas. In November 2025, new questions related to artificial intelligence were introduced; results from these questions are expected in 2026.
“BTOS provides insight into the state of the economy by providing continuous, timely data for key economic measures every two weeks. By providing continuous data with geographic and subsector detail, BTOS captures the impact of events like natural disasters and economic crises and assists in monitoring recovery efforts,” according to a statement from the Census Bureau.
Survey findings are intended to support policymakers at all levels of government with up-to-date information that can guide decisions during changing economic conditions. Businesses also use this information when making their own economic choices.
