U.S. Census Bureau
First published November 2020
The Small Business Pulse Survey (SBPS) measures the effect of changing business conditions during the Coronavirus pandemic on our nation’s small businesses. SBPS complements existing U.S. Census Bureau data collections by providing high-frequency, detailed information on the challenges small businesses are facing during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The survey includes information on small business operations and finances, requests and receipt of assistance, and measures of overall well-being and expectations for recovery. Data is available by sector and state for the fifty most populous Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).
Survey results give local, state, and federal officials essential near real-time data to aid in policy and decision-making. In addition, the information may aid businesses in making economic decisions and assist researchers studying the effects of the pandemic.
SBPS results are weekly data products and are subject to suppression based on overall response and disclosure avoidance thresholds. Data products may not meet some of the Census Bureau’s statistical quality standards.