2018-2022 American Community Survey 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) and Variance Replicate Estimates

The 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files and Variance Replicate Estimate tables are scheduled to be released January 25. The ACS PUMS files enable data users to create custom estimates and tables that are not available through pre-tabulated ACS data products. These statistics are available for the nation, regions, divisions, states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs). The Variance Replicate Estimate tables allow advanced data users to calculate margins of error when collapsing data within a table or across geographies. (Scheduled for release January 25.) 

Proposed 2025 American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey Content Changes

The public comment period through a Federal Register Notice (FRN) on proposed changes to the 2025 American Community Survey (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS) is now closed. The proposed content for the 2025 ACS and PRCS reflects changes to content and instructions that were recommended as a result of the 2022 Content Test. The Census Bureau periodically conducts tests of new and revised survey content to ensure the ACS and the PRCS meet the data needs of stakeholders. The changes proposed for 2025 cover several topics: household roster, educational attainment, health insurance coverage, disability, and labor force questions. Additionally, three new questions are proposed to be added to the ACS and the PRCS on solar panels, electric vehicles, and sewage disposal. For more information, visit the Content Changes webpage.

New Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes Data 

The U.S. Census Bureau will release new state-level data on outcomes of graduates. Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes PSEO tabulations show earnings and employment outcomes for graduates of U.S. post-secondary institutions and are generated by linking graduate transcript records to Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics wage data. This offers prospective students a comprehensive assessment tool to find out how much they could potentially earn by degree and institution. The Census Bureau conducts the PSEO in cooperation with higher education institutional systems to examine college degree attainment and graduate earnings. (Scheduled for release January 11.)

First-Look 2023 Annual Business Survey 

The U.S. Census Bureau will release an infographic and preliminary data from the Annual Business Surveys (ABS), covering data year 2022. The infographic will show the profitability of employer businesses by race. The preliminary data show the financing practices for employer firms by sex, ethnicity, race, minority and veteran status. Data in the infographic and tables are shown for the percentage of employer businesses in 2022. The ABS is conducted jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation. (Tentatively scheduled for release January 25.) 

2022 Annual Wholesale Trade Survey

The U.S. Census Bureau will release data tables from the 2022 Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS). This survey produces national estimates of total annual sales, e-commerce sales, end-of-year inventories, purchases, operating expenses, gross margins and commissions for wholesale businesses located in the United States. The AWTS provides statistics for merchant wholesalers of durable and nondurable goods; manufacturers' sales branches and offices; and wholesale electronic markets, agents and brokers. (Tentatively scheduled for release January 29.)  

2022 Annual Retail Trade Survey 

This report from the U.S. Census Bureau provides national estimates of total annual sales, e-commerce sales, end-of-year inventories, purchases, total operating expenses, and gross margins for retail businesses located in the United States. The Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS) sample covers employer businesses classified in retail trade sector located in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. ARTS excludes data for businesses located in the U.S. territories. The data are published on a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis and the estimates are used to benchmark the monthly retail sales and inventories estimates each spring. (Tentatively scheduled for release on January 29.)  

Business Trends and Outlook Survey

The Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) measures business conditions on an ongoing basis. Beginning in September 2023, the BTOS made several changes regarding data collection and data products. BTOS experimental data products are now representative of all employer businesses in the U.S. economy, excluding farms. New questions were added to the BTOS questionnaire that address the following topics: artificial intelligence, inventories, interest rates and severe weather events. Data are now available by additional employment size classes: 1-4 employees, 5-9 employees, 10-19 employees, 20-49 employees, 50-99 employees, 100-249 employees and 250 or more employees. The data allow greater insight into the state of the economy by providing continuous, timely information for key economic measures. Data are released biweekly and are available by sector, state and the 25 most populous metropolitan statistical areas. Because of the change in sample composition, BTOS data from before September 11, 2023, are not directly comparable with data after that date. 

Monthly Business Formation Statistics

Business Formation Statistics (BFS) provide timely, high-frequency data on business applications and employer business formations monthly. The data are available at the state, regional and national levels and by industry sector at the national level. The next monthly BFS will be released January 11 and include December 2023 data. Business Formation Statistics - Release Schedule (census.gov). 

Stats for Stories provides links to timely story ideas highlighting U.S. Census Bureau statistics that relate to current events, observances, holidays and anniversaries. The story ideas are intended to assist the media in story mining and producing content for their respective audiences.

• New Year’s Day: January 1, 2024 
• National Hot Tea Month: January 2024 
• National Poverty in America Awareness Month: January 2024 
• Alaska 65th Anniversary of Statehood (1959): January 3, 2024 
• National Milk Day: January 11, 2024 
• National Pharmacist Day: January 12, 2024 
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: January 15, 2024 
• Popcorn Day: January 19, 2024
• Spouses Day: January 26, 2024 

American Community Survey 5-year State-to-County Migration Flows 

December 19 — The U.S. Census Bureau released new 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year migration flows. Migration refers to the movement of people from one location to another. The state-to-county migration flows highlight the number of people moving into specific counties from U.S. states and state equivalents, U.S. Island Areas and foreign regions. Spanish

Census Bureau Projects U.S. and World Populations on New Year’s Day 

December 28 — As our nation prepares to ring in the new year, the U.S. Census Bureau released total population projections for the nation and world for January 1, 2024. For the nation, these projections show annual population growth and growth since Census Day (April 1) 2020. The release also included components of change estimates (births, deaths and net international migration). Simulated real-time growth of the U.S. and World populations is available on the Census Bureau’s Population Clock. 

Vintage 2023 Population Estimates for the Nation and States and Puerto Rico, and Components of Change

December 19 — These include July 1, 2023, population estimates for the nation, states and Puerto Rico as well as corresponding annual estimates and components of change since the 2020 Census.

New Data Visualization on Ownership Share of all Businesses by Demographics

December 20 — The Census Bureau released a new data visualization that allows users to explore the dynamic landscape of business ownership in the U.S. This interactive tool shows the distribution of business ownership by sex, minority status, veteran status and ethnicity at the national and state levels for 2018 and 2019. Statistics come from the Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey and Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics Series. Click here to view other data visualizations from the ABS.  

National Black (or African American) History Month: February 2024 

December 14 — To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, the U.S. Census Bureau presents a collection of demographic and economic statistics about the Black community.

The 2023 Winter Holiday Season 

November 2 — The holiday season is a time to celebrate, reflect and give thanks. To commemorate this time of year, the U.S. Census Bureau presents these holiday-related facts and figures from its vast collection of statistics. 

America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new and inviting way. We feature stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, the economy, emergency preparedness and the population. New stories include:

• Economic Backbone of Holiday Shopping Season: Retail Workers (December 20)
• Bill of Rights Day (1791): December 15, 2023 (December 15)
• Looking Back 250 Years: The 1773 Boston Tea Party (December 14)

Stats for Stories provides links to timely story ideas highlighting the Census Bureau’s newsworthy statistics that relate to current events, observances, holidays and anniversaries. The story ideas are intended to assist the media in story mining and producing content for their respective audiences.

• National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day (1st Day Winter): December 21, 2023
• Wright Brothers Day (1903): December 17, 2023

2020 PES Coverage Results in the Vintage 2023 Population Estimates 

Written by: Eric Jensen, senior advisor for Population Estimates and Coverage Measurement, Population Division Scott Konicki, Mathematical Statistician, Decennial Statistical Studies Division — December 18 — Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates are used to allocate federal funding as controls to improve the data from demographic surveys; as denominators to calculate vital rates and other key statistical indicators; and for many other uses. Because the population estimates play such a critical role in the nation’s statistical system, we continuously strive to improve the methods we use to produce them.

Emergency Management/Disaster Resources — When major disasters strike, visit our Emergency Management webpage for demographic and economic data on impacted areas. Each disaster will include data from our key emergency management tools: OnTheMap for Emergency Management, Community Resilience Estimates, Census Business Builder: Regional Analyst Edition, and other useful resources.

Learn What Surveys Are Being Conducted in Your Community — Discover which of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 130-plus annual surveys are being conducted in your community. In a variety of surveys and censuses, evolving from the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau provides official information about America’s people, businesses, industries and institutions. Learn more about surveys currently being conducted in each Census Bureau region:

• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Denver
• Los Angeles
• New York
• Philadelphia
• All Surveys

Below are a few of the U.S. Census Bureau’s interactive applications used to access statistics from our 130-plus annual surveys. A complete list can be accessed on the Census Bureau’s Data Tools and Apps webpage.

International Database (IDB) — Find demographic indicators, population pyramids, and source information for countries and areas of the world with a population of 5,000 or more.

Opportunity Atlas — Which neighborhoods in America offer children the best chance to rise out of poverty?

Small Business Pulse Survey Data — The Small Business Pulse Survey (SBPS) measures the effect of changing business conditions during the Coronavirus pandemic on our nation's small businesses.

Census Bureau Training Opportunities — Webinars are available on a regular basis to help the public access and use Census Bureau statistics. These free sessions, which are 60 to 90 minutes each, show users how to navigate Census Bureau databases and mapping tools and find demographic and economic statistics at the local or national level. Descriptions of upcoming sessions are available on our Census Academy webpage. Login details are provided at least one week before a webinar.

• Best Practices When Using American Community Survey Data (Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 2-3 p.m. EST)
• data.census.gov News and Updates: January 2024 (Tuesday, January 24, 2024, 2-3 p.m. EST)
• A Thematic Session on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Evidence from the Microdata (Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 1-2 p.m. EST)

Archived Training Resources

Visit the Census Bureau’s Educational Resource Library for previously recorded, free training available at your convenience. The library includes presentations, recorded webinars, tutorials and other helpful materials.