May 18, 2007
Headline News
Minority Population Tops 100 Million. (Released May 17, 2007)
Privately-Owned Housing Starts in April 2007 Were at a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate of 1,528,000. (Released May 16, 2007)
State and Local Government Finances: 2004-2005. (Released May 14, 2007)
U.S. Retail and Food Service Sales for April Reached $372.0 Billion, A Decrease of 0.2 Percent From the Previous Month. (Released May 11, 2007)
U.S. Total Business Sales for March Were $1,075.2, Up 1.4 Percent From Last Month. (Released May 11, 2007)
The Nation's International Deficit in Goods and Services Increased to $63.9 Billion in March From $57.9 Billion (Revised) in February, as Imports Increased More Than Exports. (Released May 10, 2007)
March 2007 Sales of Merchant Wholesalers Were $346.3 Billion, Up 1.8 Percent From Last Month. (Released May 8, 2007)
Facts for Features: The Fourth of July 2007. (Released May 3, 2007)
Sign Up Early!
- Accessing Census Bureau Information About American Indians and Alaska Natives is a one-day computer-based workshop specially designed to teach attendees how to access Census Bureau data as it relates specifically to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Class is available on August 16, 2007. Class size is limited, so register early.
- Understanding Federal Statistics (UFS) is a four-day, computer-based workshop at the Graduate School, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, DC. Openings are available for October 2007 workshops. Visit our web site for registration information.
Fact of the Day
Extended Measures of Well-Being
The living standards of U.S. households are traditionally measured by income. A recent Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) report takes a different approach. Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States, 2003 (PDF - 488kb) (released April 2007) measures living standards in terms of extended measures of well-being of households tracked in the SIPP to help deepen our knowledge about household conditions in ways not captured by money alone. Some aspects of well-being, such as fear of crime or quality of local public services, may be only loosely connected with money. Other measures are more closely related to income but can also be effected by factors such as the cost of living, age, disability status, and sudden changes in circumstances. Extended measures of well-being provide a more complete and detailed picture of household living conditions in the United States than income alone provides.
Hot Tip
Question and Answer Center
Remember to take advantage of the Question and Answer Center at the top of the Census home page! We are always adding to and revising our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) so be sure to continue to visit the site with your questions. If a particular FAQ is of interest to you, click the "Contact Me if This Answer Changes" box. In addition, if none of the FAQs answer your question, you can "Ask a Question" online in the Question and Answer Center, and one of our representatives will answer your question via email within 1-2 working days. We may even incorporate your question as a new Frequently Asked Question.
Recently Released
2010 Census
Locally Hired Census Workers to Update Address List, Visit Every Residence in Fayetteville Area and San Joaquin County. Locally hired workers will update the Census Bureau's address list verifying, adding, and deleting addresses, beginning early May and continuing through the end of June. This is the first major phase of the 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal to be conducted in San Joaquin County, CA., and a nine-county area around Fayetteville, NC.
Population
Estimates of U.S. and State Population by Age, Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin: July 1, 2006. Internet tables showing national and and state-level population estimates cross-tabulated by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin.
Latest Economic Indicators
Monthly Wholesale Trade: March 2007. Press release showing estimates for sales, inventories on a non-LIFO ("last in-first out") basis, and stock-sales ratios for merchant wholesalers by three-digit major kind-of-business groups.
US International Trade in Goods and Services: March 2007. Press release showing monthly exports, general imports (including data by country), and limited data on imports for consumption.
Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services: April 2007. Press release presenting advance monthly estimates of retail store sales by kind-of-business groups. Report includes seasonally adjusted estimates and percentage changes for major kind-of-business groups.
Housing Starts and Building Permits: April 2007. Press release showing data for housing starts, completions, and building permits.
Governments
State and Local Government Finances: 2004-2005. Downloadable Internet tables, covering state and local government financial activities in four broad categories: revenues, expenditures, outstanding debt and assets (cash and security holdings).
OMB Announcements
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has an online site to publish notices and rules from federal agencies on their programs. Many notices invite public comment. Below are some recent OMB postings dealing with the programs and activities of the Census Bureau:
- Generic Clearance for Customer Satisfaction Research (Posted May 7, 2007). Written comments must be submitted on or before July 6, 2007.
- 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program Commencement of Phase 2: The Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project (Posted April 20, 2007).
(Comments on this notice must be received by May 21, 2007. The deadline for States to notify the Census Bureau that they wish to participate in the Phase 2: Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project is December 15, 2007). - Census County Division (CCD) and Equivalent Entities Program for the 2010 Census-Proposed Change and Proposed Criteria (Posted April 6, 2007). Written comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 2007.
- Census Designated Place (CDP) Program for the 2010-Proposed Criteria (Posted April 6, 2007). Written comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 2007.
- Census Tract Program for the 2010 Census-Proposed Criteria (Posted April 6, 2007). Written comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 2007.
- 2007 Business Expenses Supplement (Posted March 29, 2007). Written comments must be submitted on or before May 29, 2007.
Reference and Compendia
Facts for Features. Collections of statistics from the Census Bureau's demographic and economic subject areas commemorate anniversaries or observances or provide background information for topics in the news:
- Mother's Day (May 13, 2007)
- Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May)
- Cinco de Mayo
- Older Americans Month (May)
- Father's Day (June 17)
- The Fourth of July 2007
Upcoming Releases
Population
International Data Base Update: 2006. Internet files showing demographic indicators such as infant mortality, life expectancy, fertility rates, net migration, and population growth for 228 countries and areas of the world. Includes current estimates and moving population pyramids that project age and sex distribution to 2050.
Economic Indicators
Manufacturing and Trade: Inventories and Sales: March 2007. Press release showing sales, inventories, and inventories-to-sales ratios for the combined domestic activities of retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers. Scheduled for release May 22, 2007.
Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufactures' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: April 2007. Press release showing advance information on key business indicators. Scheduled for release May 24, 2007.
New Residential Sales: April 2007. Press release reporting new one-family houses sold and for sale. Includes sales prices, months on the market, and stage of construction. Scheduled for release May 24, 2007.
Construction Spending (Put-in-Place): April 2007. Press release showing estimates of the value of total new construction put-in-place by type of construction (residential and non-residential), annual value, and by type of owner (private and public). Scheduled for release May 31, 2007.
Economic Census and Surveys
2005 County Business Patterns. This report covers business establishments with paid employees, revenue for these businesses, average employee wages, and where particular industries are concentrated. The data cover most of the 1,100 North American Industry Classification System codes. The data are tabulated by industry, and by state and county areas. Data by metro area and by ZIP code will be released this year.
Governments
Public Education Finances: 2005. In 2004, New Jersey spent more money per student on public elementary and secondary education than any other state. Whether or not the Garden State again ranked first in 2005 will be revealed via this report, which contains data on revenues, expenditures, debt and financial assets for public elementary and secondary school systems on the state and local levels. The report includes state rankings of revenues and expenditures per pupil.
May 04, 2007
Headline News
New Orders for Manufactured Goods in March Increased $11.9 Billion or 3.1 Percent to $400.2 Billion. (Released May 2, 2007)
Locally Hired Census Workers to Update Address List, Visit Every Residence in Fayetteville Area. (Released May 2, 2007)
Locally Hired Census Workers to Update Address List, Visit Every Residence in San Joaquin County. (Released May 2, 2007)
More Education Means Higher Wages In Puerto Rico. More Women Than Men Have a Bachelor's Degree. (Released April 30, 2007)
Total Construction Activity for March 2007 ($1,187.8 Billion) Was 0.2 Percent above the Revised February 2007 ($1,185.0 Billion). (Released April 30, 2007)
The Homeownership Rate in the First Quarter 2007 (68.4 Percent) Was Not Statistically Different from the First Quarter 2006 Rate (68.5 Percent). (Released April 27, 2007)
Sales of New One-Family Houses in March 2007 Were at a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate of 858,000. This Is 2.6 Percent Above the Revised February 2007 Figure of 836,000. (Released April 25, 2007)
New Orders for Manufactured Durable Goods in March Increased $7.1 Billion or 3.4 Percent to $214.9 Billion. (Released April 25, 2007)
Sign Up Early!
Accessing Census Bureau Information About American Indians and Alaska Natives is a one-day computer-based workshop specially designed to teach attendees how to access Census Bureau data as it relates specifically to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Class is available on August 16, 2007. Class size is limited, so register early.
Understanding Federal Statistics (UFS) is a four-day, computer-based workshop at the Graduate School, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, DC. Openings are available for October 2007 workshops. Visit our web site for registration information.
Fact of the Day
Homeownership Rates Remain Stable
The U.S. homeownership rate in the first quarter 2007 (68.4 percent) was not statistically different from the first quarter 2006 rate (68.5 percent). The homeownership rates in each region also were not statistically different from rates one year ago. For homeowner vacancies, the current rate was higher than a year ago (2.1 percent), but not statistically different from the rate last quarter (2.7 percent). Find out more in the Census Bureau's Economic Indicators report on residential vacancies and homeownership, including graphs, detailed tables, and historical tables.
Hot Tip
U.S. Census Bureau Releases Research Data from Study on Multi-Year Estimates
The Census Bureau has released research data on single and multi-year estimates in preparation for the 2008 release of official 3-year estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). A total of 14 data sets were created for this study using data from 1999 to 2005: three 5-year estimates, five 3-year estimates, and six 1-year estimates. Data profiles that include demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics are available for a broad set of geographic areas in 34 ACS Test counties. In addition to the online data profiles, background information about the study, methodology documentation, quality measures, and a set of questions and answers are available on the ACS web site under "Advanced Methodology."
Recently Released
2010 Census
Locally Hired Census Workers to Update Address List, Visit Every Residence in Fayetteville Area and San Joaquin County. Locally hired workers will update the Census Bureau's address list verifying, adding, and deleting addresses, beginning early May and continuing through the end of June. This is the first major phase of the 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal to be conducted in San Joaquin County, CA., and a nine-county area around Fayetteville, NC.
Population
Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States, 2003. Internet files or PDF report (PDF - 488 KB) providing national measures from the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Covers five broad domains, including possession of appliances and electronic goods (such as cellular telephones); housing conditions; neighborhoods and community services; ability to pay bills and buy groceries; and expectations of getting help from friends, families, and communities.
Economic Census and Surveys
U.S. Businesses With Employees Spent $232 Billion On Information and Communication Technology In 2004. (PDF - 2.35 MB) Find out more in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Survey: 2005. This supplement to the Annual Capital Expenditures Survey provides data on e-business infrastructure investment. U.S. businesses with employees spent $232 billion on ICT equipment such as computers, software, telephones and fax machines.
Latest Economic Indicators
Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: March 2007. Press release showing advance information on key business indicators.
New Residential Sales: March 2007. Press release reporting new one-family houses sold and for sale. Includes sales prices, months on the market, and stage of construction.
Housing Vacancies: 1st Quarter 2007. Press release showing rental and homeowner vacancy rates and characteristics of units available for occupancy.
Construction Spending (Put-in-Place): March 2007. Press release showing estimates of the value of total new construction put-in-place by type of construction (residential and non-residential), annual value, and by type of owner (private and public).
Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: March 2007. Press release showing information on key business indicators. Shows revised durable goods totals, in addition to nondurable goods manufacturers' shipments, inventories, and orders.
Governments
2006 Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections. Internet tables and data files showing summary data on taxes collected by each state for up to 25 tax categories. Nationwide, state tax collections were up nearly 9 percent from 2005.
OMB Announcements
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has an online site to publish notices and rules from federal agencies on their programs. Many notices invite public comment. Below are some recent OMB postings dealing with the programs and activities of the Census Bureau:
- 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program Commencement of Phase 2: The Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project (Posted April 20, 2007) (Comments on this notice must be received by May 21, 2007. The deadline for States to notify the Census Bureau that they wish to participate in the Phase 2: Voting District/Block Boundary Suggestion Project is December 15, 2007).
- 2010 Census Advisory Committee (Posted April 16, 2007). See the OMB notice regarding comments or written statements.
- Census Advisory Committees (Posted April 9, 2007). See the OMB notice regarding comments or written statements.
- Census County Division (CCD) and Equivalent Entities Program for the 2010 Census--Proposed Change and Proposed Criteria (Posted April 6, 2007). Written comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 2007.
- Census Designated Place (CDP) Program for the 2010--Proposed Criteria (Posted April 6,
2007). Written comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 2007. - Census Tract Program for the 2010 Census--Proposed Criteria (Posted April 6, 2007). Written comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 2007.
- 2007 Business Expenses Supplement (Posted March 29, 2007). Written comments must be
submitted on or before May 29, 2007. - Census Advisory Committee of Professional Associations (Posted March 12, 2007). See the OMB notice regarding comments or written statements.
- Quarterly Financial Report (Posted March 6, 2007). Written comments must be submitted on or before May 7, 2007.
Reference and Compendia
Facts for Features. Collections of statistics from the Census Bureau's demographic and economic subject areas commemorate anniversaries or observances or provide background information for topics in the news:
Facts for Features: Cinco de Mayo
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May)
Older Americans Month (May)
Facts for Features: Mother's Day (May 13, 2007)
Father's Day (June 17)
Upcoming Releases
Population
Estimates of U.S. and State Population by Age, Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin: July 1, 2006. Internet tables showing national and and state-level population estimates cross-tabulated by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin.
International Data Base Update: 2006. Internet files showing demographic indicators such as infant mortality, life expectancy, fertility rates, net migration, and population growth for 228 countries and areas of the world. Includes current estimates and moving population pyramids that project age and sex distribution to 2050.
Economic Indicators
Monthly Wholesale Trade: March 2007. Press release showing estimates for sales, inventories on a non-LIFO ("last in-first out") basis, and stock-sales ratios for merchant wholesalers by three-digit major kind-of-business groups. Scheduled for release May 8, 2007.
US International Trade in Goods and Services: March 2007. Press release showing monthly exports, general imports (including data by country), and limited data on imports for consumption. Scheduled for release May 10, 2007.
Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services: April 2007. Press release presenting advance monthly estimates of retail store sales by kind-of-business groups. Report includes seasonally adjusted estimates and percentage changes for major kind-of-business groups. Scheduled for release May 11, 2007.
Manufacturing and Trade: Inventories and Sales: March 2007. Press release showing sales, inventories, and inventories-to-sales ratios for the combined domestic activities of retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers. Scheduled for release May 22, 1007.
Housing Starts and Building Permits: April 2007. Press release showing data for housing starts, completions, and building permits. Scheduled for release May 16, 2007.
Governments
State and Local Government Finances: 2004-2005. Downloadable internet tables, covering state and local government financial activities in four broad categories: revenues, expenditures, outstanding debt, and assets (cash and security holdings). Tables prior to 2004 can be found at http://www.census.gov/govs/www/estimate.html.
Reference and Compendia
Facts for Features: The Fourth of July. The Census Bureau celebrates our nation's 231st birthday with a collection of statistics on flags, fireworks, and food. Data come from across demographic and economic subject areas.
