U.S. Census: The Small Business Pulse Survey
March 15, 2020
Featured: U.S. Census survey shows Michigan’s small businesses hardest hit by COVID-19 — May 15, 2020
The Small Business Pulse Survey, a new weekly experimental data product from the U.S. Census Bureau, has released the first week of results showing the effects of COVID-19 on the nation’s small businesses. The majority of respondents (51.4%) stated the crisis is having a large negative effect on their business. Industries reporting the greatest share of large negative effects include food and accommodation, arts and recreation, and education.
The first of a nine-week survey shows Michigan being the hardest hit, with 65% of respondents saying the virus had a large negative effect on their business. In Michigan, 80% report decreased revenues, while 59% have had temporary closures and 35% are cutting the number of paid employees.
The U.S. Census Bureau is sending the survey to roughly 885,000 non-farm, single location businesses with fewer than 500 employees and receipts of $1,000 or more. The first week of data was collected April 26-May 2, 2020, with 22,449 businesses responding. The Small Business Pulse Survey includes information on location closings, changes in employment, disruptions in the supply chain, the use of federal assistance programs, and expectations concerning future operations.
National and state data visualizations of the survey results can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau website.