U.S. Statistics

U.S. Census 2010

U.S. law requires a census be taken every ten years, an undertaking that's been performed every decade since 1790. It forms the basis for determining how the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are equitably distributed among the 50 states. The census also is critical in determining how federal funds are distributed to states and localities.

U.S. Census 2010 provides further information about the Census process.

American Fact Finder will give easy access to much of the Census data as it is released over the next three years.

U.S. Federal Statistics

FedStats (http://www.fedstats.gov), a U.S. government web site, provides a one-stop web site for all U.S. government statistics, including:

A-Z index with direct access to data listings in 275 categories
Fast Facts Web links that allow users to get major economic and social statistics and online versions of the most frequently requested tables from the U.S. Statistical Abstract
Keyword search capability for Internet users to search Web sites linked to FedStats

The Statistical Abstract of the United States (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/) published annually by the U.S. Government Printing Office (USGPO) is the basic resource for a very wide range of U.S. statistics. A valuable and compendious resource in itself, it also functions as a guidebook to other statistical series produced by the U.S. Government. This volume is often held by U.K. public reference libraries, college and university libraries. To purchase your own copy see How to Buy U.S. Government Printing Office Publications. It is also available as PDF files. Selected easy access features offered include USA Statistics in Brief, Frequently Requested Tables and State Rankings and State and County QuickFacts (same as Frequently Requested Tables)

Population

The U.S. population

The world population

U.S. Bureau of the Census Statistical Briefs 1993 to 1996 (http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/apsd/www/statbrief) are 2 to 4 page reports issued on specific issues of public policy summarizing data from surveys of the U.S. population. From 1996, renamed and reissued, they are available as Census Briefs and can be found amongst the list of Census Bureau PDF Publications (http://www.census.gov/prod/www/titles.html).

Economics and Trade

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA, http://www.bea.gov/) news releases on key economic statistics such as GDP, personal income and international investment

Detailed information from BEA's national, regional and international economic accounts.
Survey of Current Business recent issues and back articles.

Additional information about Bureau of Economic Analysis data and services may be found on the Bureau's the website.

The Federal Reserve System (http://www.federalreserve.gov/)is the central bank of the U.S. and as such compiles statistics on items such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates, money stack and lending.

The Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis produces a convenient Overview of the Economy. The data on this page, drawn from BEA's various economic accounts, comprise an overview of the U.S. economy in recent quarters.

The Department of the Treasury's quarterly journal, Treasury Bulletin contains a Profile of the Economy which neatly summarizes trends in areas such as GDP, housing, interest rates an employment.

The White House provides access to the latest Economic Indicators with links to the U.S. Government department or agency which collects the statistics.

Social

Some frequently used sites are:

Federal Bureau of Investigation: Uniform Crime Reports
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm

Bureau of Justice Statistics
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/

National Center for Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov

Bureau of Transportation Statistics
http://www.bts.gov