The U.S. Census Bureau, in collaboration with multiple federal agencies, is in a unique position to produce data on the social and economic effects of coronavirus on American households. The Household Pulse Survey is designed to deploy quickly and efficiently, collecting data to measure household experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. Data will be disseminated in near real-time to inform federal and state response and recovery planning.

Phase 1 of the Household Pulse Survey asked individuals about their experiences in terms of employment status, food security, housing, physical and mental health, access to health care, and educational disruption. Phase 1 also included an interactive data tool that has been replaced for Phase 2 and Phase 3, but users can still access all Phase 1 indicators.

For Phase 2 and Phase 3, the survey carries over many of these questions to allow users to understand how these domains are changing as the pandemic continues, and will include additional questions on the application and receipt of benefits, spending patterns, and availability of financial resources, post-secondary education disruptions, capacity to telework, and travel practices. There is no change in content between Phase 2 and Phase 3.

The questionnaire reflects content provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and multiple federal agencies, including:

Data collection for Phase 3 of the Household Pulse Survey began on October 28, 2020 and is anticipated to run until December 21, 2020. The first data release for Phase 3 was Wednesday, November 18. Subsequent releases will be made every two weeks.

Data collection for Phase 2 of the Household Pulse Survey began on August 19, 2020 and ended October 26, 2020.

Data collection for Phase 1 of the Household Pulse Survey began on April 23, 2020 and ended on July 21, 2020.

The Census Bureau and its federal statistical partners are considered the preeminent source of the nation's most important benchmark surveys.  Many of these surveys have been ongoing for more than 80 years and provide valuable insight on social and economic trends. 

The production of these benchmark surveys is by nature a highly deliberative process.  While efforts are underway to introduce COVID-19 questions into some of these surveys, that process can take months, sometimes years, before data are made publicly available.  

The approach for the Household Pulse Survey is different: it is designed to be a short-turnaround instrument that provides valuable data to aid in the pandemic recovery. The Census Bureau is fielding the Household Pulse Survey as a part of the agency’s Experimental Data Series; as such, data products may not meet some of the Census Bureau’s statistical quality standards. Data are subject to suppression based on overall response and disclosure avoidance thresholds.