Weekly Pulse Newsletter

Registered United States Census Bureau Logo

Weekly Pulse Newsletter

The U.S. Census Bureau is in a unique position to produce data on the social and economic effects of COVID-19 on American households and small businesses. 

Small Business Pulse Survey Updates: Phase 7

A retail worker wearing a face mask holds up a sign to indicate that her clothing store is open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Explore Data

See Data Tables

Based on responses collected November 22 through November 28, the Small Business Pulse Survey estimates that:

  • 32.6% of U.S. small businesses experienced difficulties in hiring paid employees in the last week. For responses collected 11/15-11/21, this statistic was 33.7%

In the last week, did this business have difficulties hiring paid employees?

  • 11.7% of U.S. small businesses required employees to have proof of COVID-19 vaccination before physically coming to work in the last week. For responses collected 11/15-11/21, this was 12.8%

In the last week, did businesses require employees to have proof of COVID-19 vaccination before physically coming to work?

  • 20.5% of U.S. small businesses have returned to their normal level of operations. For responses collected 11/15-11/21, this statistic was 19.7%

  • 23.4% of U.S. small businesses think they need to identify new supply chain options in the next six months. For responses collected 11/15-11/21, this statistic was 24.4%

  • 35.2% of U.S. small businesses experienced large increases in prices they pay for goods and services compared to the norm pre-3/13/20. For responses collected 11/15/21-11/21/21, this statistic was 34.3%

Comparing now to what was normal before March 13, 2020, how have the prices this business pays for goods and services changed?

  • 72.2% of U.S. manufacturing & 69.8% of retail trade small businesses experienced domestic supplier delays in the last week. The national average was 45.8%

  • 41.8% of U.S. health care and social assistance small businesses experienced difficulties hiring paid employees & 11.9% experienced a decrease in the number of paid employees in the last week

Household Pulse Survey: Phase 3.3

A woman wearing a face mask as protection against COVID-19 walks back to her car with a bag of groceries.


Explore Data

See Data Tables

On Dec. 1, 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau announced the beginning of data collection for phase 3.3 of the experimental Household Pulse Survey (HPS). The HPS is now a monthly release. Phase 3.3 includes updated vaccination questions that expand response options for the number of doses and brand of COVID-19 vaccine received. It also reinstates questions on unemployment insurance benefits and public transit and ridesharing – and continues to ask about the Child Tax Credit, sexual orientation and gender identity, rent/mortgage arrears, utility arrears and restrictions, summer catch-up education activities for grades K-12, and preventive health care for children.

Help us spread the word about Census Bureau data. Share this story on social media or forward it to a friend.

Share This

Gray Divider

COVID-19 Data Hub and More Resources

New COVID-19 Data Hub Updates

The Census Bureau's COVID-19 Data Hub is designed to help guide the nation as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic by providing economic and demographic data. Version 2.5.3 is now available!

Read More

Gray Divider

Business Formation Statistics Updates

The release of the November 2021 BFS data will come out later this month. See link below for data, graphs, and more.

Latest Updates

About the Data

About the Census Bureau

We serve as the nation's leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. The Census Bureau is the federal government's largest statistical agency. We are a statistical organization focused on data. Policy-makers, businesses, and the public use our information to make far-reaching decisions.

Subscribe to Receive Census Bureau Data Updates