COVID-19: Government Resources for RealTime Economic Indicators

"This CRS Insight presents select real-time economic indicators that attempt to measure the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the U.S. economy. Created by select federal government agencies, these new or unique indicators attempt to measure the demographic, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19 in real-time, or on a weekly or monthly basis, rather than quarterly or annually.
 
For more on traditional economic indicators, please see CRS Report R43295, Resources for Key Economic Indicators.

United States Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau developed multiple experimental data products that attempt to measure the impact of COVID-19 on households and businesses in the United States. Two of those products are described below.

Household Pulse Survey

The Census Bureau was authorized to collect data on a variety of social and economic factors affecting households during the pandemic. Data were collected in two phases, each lasting three months, from April to July and then from August to October 2020. The first phase measured education, employment, food availability, health, housing payments, and stimulus payment use. The second phase was expanded to include questions about spending patterns and transportation use.
 

 Data are available at the national and state levels, as well as for the largest metro areas in the country. Interactive data are also available (best viewed with Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome).

Small Business Pulse Survey

Census sent a 20-question survey to small business owners to capture any challenges COVID-19 made to their business. It included questions about the effect of COVID-19 on the business, including receipts, Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11521 Congressional Research Service 2 employment change, hours worked, availability of telework for employees, closures, supplier or producer delays, business capacity, loan payments, and federal financial assistance programs.

Data are available by sector and state for the 50 most populous Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Interactive data are also available (best viewed with Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome).

For more on the Census response to COVID-19, and Small Business Assistance, see CRS In Focus IF11594, New Census Bureau Products Track COVID-19’s Effects, and CRS Insight IN11301, Small Businesses and COVID-19: Relief and Assistance Resources..."
COVID-19 and Economic Indicators