Microdata files contain individual responses to survey questions. They can be used to create custom tabulations and allow users to delve further into the rich detail collected in the Household Pulse Survey (HPS).

Each of the releases include a Public Use Data File (PUF), a replicate weight data file, and a data dictionary. 

The cross-sectional data collection for the Household Pulse Survey (HPS) ended on September 16, 2024, with the final data of the cross-sectional data collection released on October 3, 2024.

In early October 2024, HPS content began transitioning into a longitudinal design, with data collected every other month to be released at a national level. By January 2025, the HPS officially relaunched as an integral part of the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS).

In the longitudinal design of HTOPS, the survey content alternates every other month between HPS-focused content, which address timely issues affecting U.S. households, and content submitted by internal Census partners and stakeholders, allowing for flexible, targeted exploration of emergent topics. The longitudinal design of HTOPS also helps ensure these vital data are produced in an efficient, less burdensome manner that enhances their richness for timely data. Additionally, the longitudinal design benefits HPS data by allowing direct measurement of change over a much longer period of time in critical elements like spending, inflation, and other social and economic indicators of well-being.