Based on responses collected March 8 through March 14, the Small Business Pulse Survey estimates that:
-
10.1% of U.S. small businesses experienced an increase in operating revenues/sales/receipts in the last week. For responses collected 3/1 – 3/7, this statistic was 8.6%
-
7.7% of U.S. small businesses have experienced an increase in the total number of hours worked by paid employees in the last week. For responses collected 3/1-3/7, this statistic was 6.7%
-
7.1% of U.S. small businesses experienced an increase in the number of paid employees in the last week. For responses collected 3/1-3/7, this statistic was 6.1%
-
18.0% of U.S. small businesses have received financial assistance from the Paycheck Protection Program (loan forgiveness) since December 27, 2020
-
40.1% of U.S. small businesses believe more than 6 months will pass before their business returns to its normal level of operations. For responses collected 3/1-3/7, this statistic was 41.6%
-
52.2% of U.S. educational services small businesses have experienced a large negative effect from the coronavirus pandemic
-
12.4% of U.S. healthcare and social assistance small businesses required their employees to test negative for COVID-19 in the last week before coming to work
The Operational Challenges Index, which assesses the overall effect of the pandemic on business operations, has decreased challenges for the second week in a row, indicating an increasingly positive effect.