OCT. 5, 2022 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released new data from phase 3.6 of the experimental Household Pulse Survey (HPS). The HPS is an effort by the Census Bureau and other federal statistical agencies to provide near real-time data on how the COVID-19 pandemic, and changes in social and economic conditions are affecting people’s lives to inform federal and state response and recovery planning.

Phase 3.6 includes new and updated questions. Some previously asked questions have been removed.

New:

• Ability to carry out day-to-day activities due to experiencing long COVID.
• Nonparental child care arrangements and costs of child care.
• Changes in transportation behaviors due to cost of gas.
• A series of questions regarding access to infant formula.
• Inflation and changes in behavior due to increasing prices.
• Questions on K-12 enrollment and educational catch-up activities (reinstated).

Updated:

• Changing the reference period for the unemployment insurance items.
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as a response option to the question that asks about how households meet spending needs.
• Replacing employment categories with the standard North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes.

Removed:

• Lack of access to child care.
• Use of public transportation and ridesharing.
• Working or volunteering outside the home.
• Receipt and use of the Child Tax Credit.
• Post-secondary educational disruptions.
• Telehealth for adults and children.

The Census Bureau is set to release data from this phase Oct. 5, Oct. 26 and Nov. 29. HPS results are available on our website through the Household Pulse Survey Interactive Tool, detailed tables and a public-use data file.

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