Household Pulse Survey

The purpose of conducting the Covid-19 Household Pulse Survey is to produce data on the social and economic impacts of Covid-19 on American households. The Census Bureau has developed the Covid-19 Household Pulse experimental survey in cooperation with five other federal agencies to improve the federal statistical systems ability to measure the impact of Covid-19. The ability to understand how individuals are experiencing this period is critical to governmental and non-governmental response in light of business curtailment and closures, stay-at-home orders, school closures, changes in the availability of consumer goods and consumer patterns, and other abrupt and significant changes to American life. The survey demonstrates the unique ability of the federal statistical system to rapidly respond and provide salient information based on a high quality sample frame, data integration, and cooperative expertise.

Question domains seek to measure impacts on employment status, consumer spending (including use of stimulus payments), food security, housing, education disruptions, and dimensions of physical and mental wellness.