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SResearch Service
COVID-19: Government Resources for Real-
Time Economic Indicators
Updated August 10, 2021
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 collection began in April 2020, in phases, and the results are
published periodically.
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. The third phase continues to collect the same data.
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
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress