Census Tweaks Income Survey: Comment by November Deadline
Published Date: 9/17/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Census Bureau is asking for your thoughts on updates to the 2027 Current Population Survey’s Annual Social and Economic Supplement, which collects important info about people’s jobs, income, and living situations. This helps keep the survey accurate and less of a hassle for participants. If you want to share your ideas, make sure to comment by November 16, 2026—no money changes, just smarter data collection!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
ASEC Field Test: First Internet Self-Response
You may be asked to complete the CPS Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) online during the 2027 Field Test. The field test runs from January 2027 until May 2027 and is the first time the ASEC will be administered as an internet self-response (ISR) to evaluate comparability with the current in-person computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) approach and to test question wording changes.
Estimated Time Burden for Respondents
If you are selected for the 2027 ASEC Field Test, the Census Bureau estimates about 50,000 respondents will each spend about 50 minutes completing the survey. The notice estimates total annual burden hours of 41,667 and states there is no monetary cost to respondents beyond their time; participation is voluntary.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-20249, Notice of Data Sharing Activity
Starting October 2, 2026, the Census Bureau will share some business survey data with the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to help make U.S. economic stats more accurate and efficient. This affects businesses that voluntarily provide info in Census surveys, with no legal pressure to share. Only trusted BEA staff sworn to keep data secret will see the info, and there’s no cost impact for businesses.
2026-20155, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)
The Census Bureau wants to keep collecting data for the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) program, which helps track jobs and workers over time. They’re asking the public to comment by November 30, 2026, before they get final approval from the Office of Management and Budget. This keeps the data flowing without adding extra hassle or cost to businesses and workers.
2026-20153, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Quarterly Services Survey (QSS)
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2026-20167, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; DOC-Census Workforce Development Collection
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2026-19301, Proposed Data Sharing Activity
The Census Bureau wants to share some business data with the Bureau of Economic Analysis to help improve economic reports. This change affects businesses whose data is collected and aims to make government info more useful without extra costs. People have until November 23, 2026, to share their thoughts on this plan.
2026-18481, Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions
The Census Bureau is proposing to add two new parts to the Code of Federal Regulations governing the decennial census of population and housing. First, the Census Bureau is proposing to add a part outlining the residence criteria used for identifying each person's "usual residence," as needed to determine whether and where to count them in the census of the population throughout the United States. Second, the Census Bureau is proposing to add a part establishing standards and restrictions for the inclusion of certain demographic questions on the decennial census short-form questionnaire and any other questionnaire used for the enumeration of the population. The Census Bureau is considering these two additions to better prioritize and fulfill its Constitutional mandate to count for apportionment the "whole number of persons in each State" based on the concept of "usual residence"--a process that factors in an element of allegiance but otherwise should be colorblind and should not be distorted in any way by questions about immaterial personal characteristics, such as race. Although these two parts are somewhat related and complementary, each is being proposed independently based on its own merits. These proposals are intended to ensure fidelity to the Constitution, improve and protect the core decennial census data, and promote efficiency.
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