Census Bureau Ho-Hums Another Business Trends Survey Renewal
Published Date: 9/9/2026
Notice
Summary
No summary available.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
BTOS Adds Multi‑Unit Businesses
The Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) will expand its scope to include multi‑unit businesses (those with more than one location). BTOS previously included only single‑unit businesses and targets all nonfarm employer businesses with receipts of $1,000 or more in the United States, DC, and Puerto Rico.
Survey Time Burden for Businesses
BTOS expects 396,000 responses in cycles 1, 3, and 4 and 132,000 responses in cycle 2. Average time per response is 10 minutes for cycles 1, 3, and 4 and 20 minutes for cycle 2, with total estimated burden hours of 110,000. Participation is voluntary.
New Core Question on Business Uncertainty
The Census Bureau requests approval to add a new core BTOS question about business uncertainty; this new core question has undergone cognitive testing and will be included in the core set of items that respondents answer.
AI Questions Moved Into Core; AI Supplement Repeat
The Census Bureau seeks approval to repeat an AI supplemental module with minor changes and to move two AI items (Generative AI usage and AI impact on total employees) into core questions, plus add a new core question about AI impacts on new employees. Skip logic will restrict AI questions to businesses that report AI usage.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-18176, Current Mandatory Business Surveys
The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) will conduct the following current three mandatory business surveys in 2026: (1) Annual Integrated Economic Survey; (2) Annual Business Survey; and (3) Business and Professional Classification Report. We have determined that data collected from these surveys are needed to aid the efficient performance of essential governmental functions and have significant application to the needs of the public and industry. The data derived from these surveys, most of which have been conducted for many years, are not publicly available from nongovernmental or other governmental sources.
2026-14512, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions
The Census Bureau wants to keep running its Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions for three more years and is asking the public to share their thoughts by September 18, 2026. This survey helps track new home building and sales, affecting builders, buyers, and policymakers. No big changes or costs are planned, just a smooth continuation to keep housing data fresh and useful.
2026-14513, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; the Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders (M3) Survey
The Census Bureau wants to keep collecting monthly info from U.S. manufacturers about their shipments, inventories, and orders through the M3 survey. They’re asking the public to share thoughts by September 18, 2026, before they get final approval. This helps keep the data flowing without adding extra hassle or cost to businesses.
2026-14554, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for Internet Panel Pretesting and Qualitative Survey Methods Testing
The Census Bureau wants to keep testing online surveys and internet panels to make sure their questions work well and don’t waste your time. They’re asking for your thoughts by September 18, 2026, before getting final approval. This helps keep surveys smart, quick, and less annoying for everyone involved, with no extra cost or big time changes.
2026-13801, Age Search Fee Structure
Starting August 7, 2026, the Census Bureau is raising the Age Search fee from $65 to $155 and the rush fee from $20 to $50. This service helps people get official proof of their age from old census records, especially if they don’t have a birth certificate. These changes cover the real costs of processing requests, which haven’t been updated since 2004.
2026-11886, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; DOC-Census Workforce Development Collection
The Census Bureau wants your thoughts on a new survey about workforce training programs run by the Department of Commerce. This survey will help improve how they track and support people in these programs, with no cost to participants. You’ve got until August 11, 2026, to share your feedback before the survey gets the green light from the Office of Management and Budget.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-18303, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NTIA Internet Use Survey
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Next: 2026-18305, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; American Lobster-Annual Trap Transfer Program