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.