Revolutionizing Economic Analysis: Understanding the Power of BTOS Data for the U.S. Economy

The BTOS data is a valuable tool for understanding the state of the U.S. economy, excluding farms. It provides continuous, timely data for key economic measures every two weeks, allowing for a thorough understanding of events such as natural disasters and economic crises, and monitoring recovery efforts.

The sample used in the BTOS survey consists of approximately 1.2 million businesses that are surveyed biweekly. These businesses are divided into six panels, each consisting of around 200,000 cases. Businesses in these panels are asked to report every 12 weeks for a year. On average, it is estimated that the respondent takes about nine minutes to complete the survey, including time for reading the instructions and providing answers.

The data collected through BTOS will be released biweekly and will be available by sector, state, and the 25 most populous metropolitan statistical areas. This information is crucial for local, state, and federal officials as it provides real-time data for policymaking and decision-making. Additionally, businesses can utilize this data to make informed economic decisions.

It’s important to note that this announcement does not include a news release but rather provides a tip sheet for information on BTOS.