June 30, 2020
New Census Bureau Products Track COVID-19’s Effects
Introduction
another to avoid overburdening respondents. The sample
In May 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau released its first
included four panels in the second and third weeks and is
findings from the new Household Pulse and Small Business
including three subsequently. The bureau stated that this
Pulse Surveys. These experimental products are designed to
design can offer insights into “how household experiences
track the effects of the novel coronavirus disease—first
changed during the pandemic.”
observed in Wuhan, China, in 2019 (COVID-19) and
declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in
Advantages and Limitations
March 2020. The bureau defines such products as those
The Census Bureau has noted that efforts are underway to
“using new data sources or methodologies that benefit data
introduce new questions about COVID-19 into the
users in the absence of other relevant products.” Long
statistical agencies’ benchmark surveys. Producing these
before COVID-19 struck, the federal statistical system
surveys, however, is “a highly deliberative process,” so data
produced data that could gauge changes in mortality, health
on the pandemic might not be released for months or years.
status, food supplies, unemployment, and business
The Household Pulse Survey, in contrast, has a short
conditions, among other important variables. Not
turnaround time. Although response rates may be
previously available, however, were the kind of data now
considerably lower than in the bureau’s traditional surveys,
provided by the pulse surveys, which are not only detailed
the pulse survey’s benefits include, in the bureau’s words,
but also being disseminated in almost real time to help
“implementation efficiency, cost, and timeliness of
policymakers respond to the pandemic and plan for
responses.”
recovery.
Because, as the bureau has explained, “experimental data
Household Pulse Survey
may not meet all” of its quality standards, it clearly
The Household Pulse Survey questionnaire is the product of
identifies the pulse survey data, provides technical
collaboration among some of the major agencies in the
documentation, includes a “Source and Accuracy
federal statistical system, led by the Census Bureau
Statement” with each release, and invites user feedback
(Department of Commerce), which is conducting the survey
about data quality and usefulness. (For an example of a
and presenting the results. The other collaborators are the
“Source and Accuracy Statement,” see
Economic Research Service (Department of Agriculture),
https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/demo/
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, Department of Labor),
technical-documentation/hhp/Source-and-Accuracy-
National Center for Health Statistics (Department of Health
Statement-May-21-May-26.pdf.)
and Human Services), National Center for Education
Statistics (Department of Education), and Department of
Illustrative Findings: May 21 to May 26, 2020
Housing and Urban Development, with input from the
As previously mentioned, Household Pulse Survey results
Office of Management and Budget. The topics covered are
are available weekly. The May 21 to May 26 period,
individuals’ “employment status, spending patterns, food
highlighted below at the national level, was one in which
security, housing, physical and mental health, access to
children could have been meeting educational requirements
health care, and educational disruption.” Responses are
from home before the end of the school year, and adults
made online and are voluntary.
could have been largely responsible for teaching them.
Adults, with or without children, could have been facing
Level of Geography and Frequency
multiple other challenges, which the survey results indicate.
The Census Bureau is producing statistics from the survey
for the 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), and the 15
Time devoted to teaching activities. Adults living with
most populous metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).
children enrolled in public or private schools reported
spending an average of 11.7 hours in the past week (that is,
Data collection began on April 23, 2020, and is to continue
the week before respondents answered the survey) on
for 90 days, with weekly data releases.
teaching activities with the children.
Sample Design
Loss of employment income. Adults living with children
The survey draws on a systematic sample of housing units
under age 18 were more likely than adults in childless
from the Census Bureau’s Master Address File,
households (55.3% versus 43.3%) to report loss of
supplemented by email addresses and mobile telephone
employment income since March 13, 2020.
numbers from the bureau’s Contact Frame. The initial
sample, according to the bureau, was divided into three
Food. Whereas 22.3% of adults reported that, before March
panels, and each was interviewed up to three times. In
13, their households had enough food, but not always the
successive weeks, the bureau is replacing one panel with
types of food wanted, 31.1% of adults reported this
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New Census Bureau Products Track COVID-19’s Effects
situation for the past seven days. The proportions who
The first data from the survey became available on May 14,
responded that, before March 13, the household sometimes
2020; weekly data releases have continued through June.
or often did not have enough to eat were 6.5% and 2.0%
respectively, compared with 7.5% and 2.3%, respectively,
Sample Design
over the past week. Of adults living with children, 9.4%
The survey’s target population is all nonfarm, single-
reported sometimes not having enough food for their
location businesses with fewer than 500 employees and
households before March 13; 2.6% reported often not
annual receipts of at least $1,000 in the 50 states, DC, and
having enough food. These adults acknowledged that they
Puerto Rico. Businesses eligible to participate in the survey
sometimes (10.6%) or often (2.9%) lacked enough food for
are those that responded to the 2017 Economic Census. The
their households in the past seven days. Unemployed adults
sample had about 940,500 businesses in the first week and
living with children reported sometimes (14.8%) or often
has had about 885,000 since then, after email addresses
(4.9%) having insufficient food for their households in the
linked to multiple businesses were removed. As the Census
last week.
Bureau explained, the sample is divided into nine panels to
reduce the burden on respondents.
Mental Health. Over half of adults (55.1%) reported
“feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge”; 47.2% reported
Advantages and Limitations
“having little interest or pleasure in doing things”; and
A key advantage of the survey, as of its household
44.8% acknowledged “feeling down, depressed, or
counterpart, is that it provides frequent, detailed
hopeless” for “several days,” “more than half the days,” or
information on the topics covered.
“nearly every day” during the past week.
The Census Bureau has pointed out that although the
Housing. Of adults living in homes that they owned with
sample for the pulse survey is not a probability sample,
mortgages, 7.2% reported not having made the previous
“weights were applied to ensure that each weekly panel
month’s mortgage payment, while 14.9% of adults living in
represented the full population.”
rented housing did not pay the past month’s rent. As for
confidence that they could make the next month’s payment,
The survey’s definition of “small business” may differ from
4.7% of owners with mortgages and 13.2% of renters
the definition(s) used by other organizations or federal
expressed “no confidence”; the respective proportions rose
agencies.
to 7.7% and 18.4% among those not currently employed.
Nonresponse bias could affect the survey; businesses closed
Small Business Pulse Survey
due to the pandemic might not respond because they have
Agencies collaborating on the Small Business Pulse Survey
not received the bureau’s request to do so. Also, the survey
include, among others, the Small Business Administration,
estimates could be biased if businesses participating in the
Minority Business Development Administration and
survey differ systematically from nonparticipants.
Bureau of Economic Analysis (both in the Department of
Commerce), and BLS.
Illustrative Findings: May 24 to May 30, 2020
In response to the survey question, “Overall, how has this
The survey questionnaire collects information about altered
business been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?”, a
conditions facing small businesses during the pandemic,
national average of 42.9% of businesses reported a “large
including “overall impact, change in revenues, temporary
negative effect.” More than half (54.0%) reported decreased
closings, change in employees, change in employee hours,
“revenues/sales/receipts” in the past week (referring to the
supply chain, shift to other goods/services, pickup/carry-
week before businesses answered the survey); 28.4%
out/delivery, cash on hand, missed loan payments, missed
reported temporary closings; 13.7% answered that they had
other payments, requested assistance, received assistance,
fewer paid employees; and 28.8% reported that the paid
[and] outlook” about future operations. Responses, like
employees worked fewer hours. Disruptions in the supply
those for the Household Pulse Survey, are online and
chain were noted by 37.0% of businesses. Three-quarters
voluntary.
(75.1%) acknowledged requesting assistance from the
Paycheck Protection Program (see CRS Report R46284,
Level of Geography and Frequency
COVID-19 Relief Assistance to Small Businesses: Issues
The Census Bureau is releasing survey results by state and
and Policy Options) since March 13, 2020, and 71.0%
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
reported receiving assistance from this source since March
sector and for the 50 most populous MSAs. Examples of
13. Responding to the question “how much time do you
NAICS sectors considered in scope for the survey are
think will pass before this business returns to its normal
construction; manufacturing; mining, quarrying, and oil and
level of operations relative to one year ago?”, 41.2%
gas extraction; transportation and warehousing; utilities;
answered “more than six months,” while 9.6% did not think
administrative, support, waste management, and
the business would return to its normal level of operations.
remediation services; accommodation and food services;
retail trade; wholesale trade; healthcare and social
Jennifer D. Williams, Specialist in American National
assistance; real estate, rental, and leasing; management of
Government
companies and enterprises; information; finance and
insurance; professional, scientific, and technical services;
IF11594
educational services; and arts, entertainment, and
recreation.
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New Census Bureau Products Track COVID-19’s Effects
Disclaimer
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