The Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) will be a new experimental survey with bi-weekly data collection and publication. This continuous near real time data publication will provide a baseline of the U.S. economy and will measure change as a result of current and future economic shocks. The ongoing nature of the BTOS is in response to stakeholder feedback on the Small Business Pulse Survey (SBPS), which was that economic baseline or ‘norms’ data would have been helpful to have in comparison to the SBPS data on pandemic impact.
The net decrease in burden is a result of increasing the burden estimate to 8 minutes per questionnaire and reducing the number of expected responses based on our experience in the first year BTOS.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.