December 18, 2017

The U.S. Census Bureau is continually evaluating its operations to determine how we can efficiently measure the nation’s people, places, and economy. After a thorough evaluation of American Community Survey (ACS) program operations, we have decided we will no longer collect ACS Nonresponse Follow Up (NRFU) information from respondents through our Computer- Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) operation. The last month of ACS CATI NRFU was September 2017. This message is to inform you of this change to the ACS program.  

As a result of the elimination of the ACS CATI NRFU operation, we estimate that we will be making approximately 10 million fewer telephone calls per year to ACS respondents, thereby significantly reducing respondent burden.

Based on cost and performance data, we determined that ACS CATI was no longer a viable option for NRFU data collection. Program data over the last few years have shown that the cost per interview for ACS CATI NRFU was exceeding the cost per interview for ACS Computer-Assisted Personal Interview NRFU. Also, response rates for the ACS CATI NRFU operation have dropped over the past several years. The data quality impact of cutting ACS CATI NRFU will be negligible, a very low percentage of survey responses were coming from this mode.

The Census Bureau will continue to conduct the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance and Failed Edit Follow Up operations for the ACS. We will also have a Census Questionnaire Assistance program for the 2020 Decennial Census.

December 7, 2017

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2012-2016 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. The ACS is the most relied-on source for up-to-date social, economic, housing, and demographic information every year. These statistics cover all geographic areas regardless of size, down to the block-group level.

The ACS is the only source of local statistics for most of the 40 topics it covers, such as educational attainment, occupation, language spoken at home, nativity, ancestry, and selected monthly homeowner costs.

Visit the Census Bureau's American FactFinder or use the Census API to start exploring these estimates.

For more information, visit the links below:

• Guidance for Data Users: Learn more about the types of data tables and tools available, and get guidance about when to use 1-year and 5-year estimates.
• 2012-2016 ACS 5-year Narrative Profiles: 2012-2016 ACS 5-year Narrative Profiles are available for state, county, place, metropolitan/micropolitan statistical area, ZIP Code Tabulation Area, American Indian Area/Alaska Native Area/Hawaiian Home Land and census tract. Narrative Profiles summarize many topics using nontechnical text and graphs. Visit both the ACS Narrative Profiles page and American FactFinder for continuous profile data since 2009.
• Updated ACS 5-year and Census 2000 SF3 Table Comparisons: Visit our ACS/Census 2000 Table Comparisons tool to find comparable tables between ACS 5-year estimates and Census 2000 Summary File 3 detailed tables.
• Summary File Data: The 2012-2016 ACS 5-year Summary File data on the FTP site are now available. Supporting materials were released last week.
• Updated County Profiles: Like the Geography Profiles for states, the County Profiles provide visuals of QuickFacts data, presenting charts and maps to give a snapshot for each county. These profiles have been updated with 2012-2016 ACS 5-year data. To test things out, visit data.census.gov and search for your county.  Then let us know what you think by emailing your thoughts to cedsci.feedback@census.gov.

November 30, 2017

We are pleased to announce the first release of documentation in support of the 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-year estimates scheduled for release on Thursday, December 7, 2017. This documentation offers ACS data users the opportunity to prepare for next week's data release.

New and updated information related to this release is available now on the 2016 Data Release page.

Highlights include links to the following:

• The Code Lists, Definitions, and Accuracy page includes new instructions for applying statistical testing to the ACS 5-year data.
• The Summary File Documentation page includes new 5-year files for the appendix, sequence number/table number lookup files, SAS programs, and macros.
• The Tables and Geography Changes page explains new and modified tables.

October 19, 2017

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2016 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Files, and 2016 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year Supplemental Estimates.

2016 ACS 1-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Files

The PUMS files show the full range of population and housing unit responses collected on individual ACS questionnaires for a subsample of ACS housing units and group quarters persons (approximately one percent of the United States population).

The PUMS files allow data users to conduct a custom analysis. Working with PUMS data generally involves downloading large datasets onto a local computer and analyzing the data using statistical software such as R, SPSS, Stata, or SAS.

PUMS data can be accessed via the ACS FTP site, American FactFinder, or via the Census Bureau's DataFerrett tool. DataFerrett is particularly useful for researchers who need a quick statistic or do not have access to statistical software.

For more information, visit the links below:

• About PUMS: Learn more about microdata, Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs), and weighting
• Subjects Included in the PUMS: Topics and example variables included in the PUMS files
• PUMS File Structure: Information about the format of PUMS files, as well as when and how to merge them
• PUMS ReadMe: Information about 2016 geography and variable changes, as well as guidance for novice users
• Accuracy of the PUMS: Explanation of the sample design, estimation methodology, and accuracy of the data
• PUMS Estimates for User Verification: If users have doubts about whether they are correctly computing estimates, they can attempt to reproduce these estimates using the replicate weight method

2016 ACS 1-Year Supplemental Estimates

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2016 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year Supplemental Estimates.

The ACS is the most relied-on source for up-to-date social, economic, housing, and demographic information every year. Supplemental Estimates provide these data for geographies with populations of 20,000 or more, compared to the 65,000 population minimum for the standard ACS 1-year estimates. They are available for the nation, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, every congressional district, every metropolitan area, and all counties and places with populations of 20,000 or more.

Visit the Census Bureau's American FactFinder or use the Census API to start exploring these estimates.

October 12, 2017

We are pleased to announce the first release of documentation in support of the 2016 ACS 1-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Files and 2016 ACS 1-year Supplemental Estimates scheduled for release on Thursday, October 19, 2017. This documentation offers ACS data users the opportunity to prepare for next week's data releases.

2016 ACS 1-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Documentation

The 2016 tab of the PUMS Technical Documentation page now includes code lists, subject definitions, the data dictionary, and top and bottom coded values:

• Code Lists: This document contains the detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation.
• Subjects in the PUMS: A list of broad topics included in each of the housing and population record files.
• Data Dictionary: Full listing of all variables (and values) included in each of the housing and population record files.
• Top and Bottom Coded Values: Uncommon responses, such as particularly high income, are grouped into broader categories; these documents explain when and where we have modified values. 

More documentation will be released on October 19th along with the 2016 ACS 1-year PUMS files.

2016 ACS 1-Year Supplemental Estimates Documentation

New and updated information related to this release is available now on the 2016 Data Release page. Highlights include links to the following:

• Guidance for Data Users: Learn more about when to use 1-year, 1-year Supplemental, and 5-year estimates.
• Geography and ACS: View the geographic areas with published data for the 1-year Supplemental Estimates.
• Modified Tables: View 2016 table changes for a description of this year's modified table.
• Table Shells: View the layout of tables (without the estimates or margins of error filled in) by exploring the 1-year Supplemental Estimates table shells.

September 14, 2017

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2016 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year estimates, the most relied-on source for up-to-date social, economic, and housing information every year.

The ACS is the only source of local statistics for most of the 40 topics it covers, such as educational attainment, occupation, language spoken at home, ancestry, and selected monthly homeowner costs.

The ACS 1-year estimates are available for the nation, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, every congressional district, every metropolitan area, and all counties and places with populations of 65,000 or more. To find out if these estimates are available for your county or city, please consult our Reference Materials.

Visit the Census Bureau's American FactFinder or use the Census API to start exploring these estimates.

For more information, visit the links below:

• Guidance for Data Users: Learn more about the types of data tables and tools available, and get guidance about when to use 1-year and 5-year estimates.
• 2016 Changes: Visit our 2016 Data Release page to learn about table and geography changes, and the 2016 Comparison Guidance page to learn how these estimates compare to previous ACS estimates, the 2000 Census, and Census 2010.
• 2016 Summary File: Download all of the ACS Detailed Tables via the Summary File on the FTP. Instructions and other technical information are available on the Summary File Documentation page.
• Related Updates: Read the latest news about ACS-related releases.

September 7, 2017

We are pleased to announce the first release of documentation in support of the 2016 American Community Survey 1-year estimates scheduled for release on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. This documentation offers ACS data users the opportunity to prepare for next week's data release.

New and updated information related to this release is available now on the 2016 Data Release page.

Highlights include links to the following:

• The Table & Geography Changes page explains new, modified, and removed tables, as well as information on changes to geography.
• The Code Lists, Definitions, and Accuracy page includes code lists, subject definitions, group quarters definitions and instructions for applying statistical testing.
• The Summary File Documentation page includes the technical document, table shells, and sequence/table number lookup files.
• Table Shells display the layout of the tables without the estimates or margins of error filled in.
• The Geography Boundaries by Year page shows which vintage of geography the 2016 ACS 1-year estimates are based on.
• The Areas Published page lists the total number of geographic areas that receive 2016 ACS 1-year estimates. An excel file also details the specific geographies that have published data.

July 13, 2017

We are pleased to announce the release of new American Community Survey (ACS) estimates for detailed race, Hispanic Origin, ancestry, and tribal population groups. These statistics, available from the 2011-2015 ACS 5-year Selected Population Tables and 2011-2015 ACS 5-year American Indian and Alaska Native Tables, provide the greatest level of statistical information for detailed population groups.

The ACS is the most relied-on source for up-to-date social, economic, demographic, and housing characteristics every year. Estimates from today's release provide these characteristics for detailed population groups using lower minimum population requirements compared to the standard ACS 1-year release. Highlights include:

• Selected Population Tables: Provide estimates for 416 race, Hispanic Origin, ancestry, and tribal population groups at numerous geographic areas, including census tracts
• American Indian and Alaska Native Tables: Provide estimates for 1,119 detailed tribes at numerous geographic areas, including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and American Indian and Alaska Native Areas

Today's release is the first update to the data since the previous tables based on the 2006-2010 American Community Survey.

Visit the Census Bureau's American FactFinder and search for a detailed population group to start exploring these estimates.

For more information, visit the Race/Ethnicity and American Indian & Alaska Native Documentation page. Documentation has been posted to browse the available tables, population groups, geographies, comparison guidance, and accuracy of the data.

July 6, 2017

We are pleased to announce the first release of documentation in support of new American Community Survey (ACS) estimates for detailed race, Hispanic Origin, ancestry, and tribal population groups. These statistics, available from the 2011-2015 ACS 5-year Selected Population Tables and 2011-2015 ACS 5-year American Indian and Alaska Native Tables, are scheduled for release on Thursday, July 13, 2017.

The new documentation offers ACS data users the opportunity to prepare for next week's data release by exploring the available:

• Tables: Browse the list of available Data Profiles and Detailed Tables for next week's release, and find equivalent table numbers for previous datasets.
• Population Groups: Access the code lists to determine if tables are available for a specific population group.
• Geographies: View the list of geographic areas available for each set of tables in next week's release.
• Comparison Guidance: Definitions of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes change over time. Reference the comparison guidelines to determine whether data for these groups are comparable to statistics from previous datasets.

Estimates from these tables provide the greatest level of statistical information for detailed population groups. This is the first update to the data since the previous release based on the 2006-2010 American Community Survey.

May 31, 2017

The Census Bureau has released Agility in Action 2.0: A Snapshot of Enhancements to the American Community Survey. This document describes the efforts we are undertaking to create a positive customer experience while maintaining the high quality of American Community Survey (ACS) data. It provides background on the issues facing the ACS, methods to address the issues, and the path forward. This is the next version of the Agility In Action plan for the ACS (Versions 1.2, 1.1).

Research activities are described in the following subsections:

• Enhancing Respondent Mail Materials

• Employing Alternative Data Sources

• Modifying the Modes and Design of the ACS

• Ensuring Agile Design

• Improving Messaging and Communications

• Understanding the Respondent’s Experience

• Improving Group Quarters Data Collection and Products

January 19, 2017

2011-2015 ACS 5-Year PUMS Files

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2011-2015 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) files. 

The ACS 5-year PUMS files show the full range of population and housing unit responses collected on individual ACS questionnaires for a subsample of ACS housing units and group quarters persons (approximately five percent of the United States population).

PUMS files allow data users to conduct a custom analysis, though the files also tend to be more complicated to use. Working with PUMS data generally involves downloading large datasets onto a local computer and analyzing them using statistical software such as R, SPSS, Stata, or SAS.

PUMS data can be accessed via the Census Bureau's FTP site, American FactFinder, or via the DataFerrett tool. (This tool is particularly useful for researchers who need a quick statistic or do not have access to statistical software.)

For more information, explore the new 2011-2015 ACS 5-year PUMS Technical Documentation:

• PUMS ReadMe: Information about geography and variable changes, as well as guidance for novice users.
• Code Lists: This document contains the detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation.
• Subjects in the PUMS: A list of broad topics included in each of the housing and population record files.  
• Data Dictionary: Full listing of all variables (and values) included in each of the housing and population record files.
• Accuracy of the PUMS: Explanation of the sample design, estimation methodology, and accuracy of the data.
• PUMS Estimates for User Verification: If users have doubts about whether they are correctly computing estimates, they can attempt to reproduce these estimates (using the replicate weight method).

2011-2015 Variance Replicate Estimate Tables

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2011-2015 ACS Variance Replicate Estimate Tables. These tables include estimates, margins of error (MOEs), and 80 variance replicate estimates for selected ACS 5-year Detailed Tables. With the replicate estimates, advanced users can calculate MOEs when collapsing data within a table or across geographies. This method provides a more accurate MOE than available approximation formulas.

To access these estimates, visit the Variance Replicate Estimates page or through the Census Bureau's FTP site.

For more information, visit the Variance Replicate Estimate Tables documentation page:

• 2011-2015 Variance Replicate Estimate Tables Documentation: Learn how to calculate margins of error for aggregated estimates, percentages, and ratios through these instructions with worked examples.
• Variance Replicate Estimate Table and Geography List: Learn which tables and types of geographic areas have variance replicate estimates.
• Table Shells: View the layout of tables without the estimates or margins of error filled in.

January 12, 2017

We are pleased to announce the first release of documentation in support of the 2011-2015 ACS 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Estimates. The data will be released on January 19th, 2017 . This documentation offers ACS data users the opportunity to prepare for next week's data releases.

2011-2015 ACS 5-year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Documentation

The 2015 tab of the PUMS Technical Documentation page now includes code lists, subject definitions, the data dictionary, and top and bottom coded values:

• Code Lists: This document contains the detailed codes for variables that contain a large number of coded responses, such as ancestry and occupation.
• Subjects in the PUMS: A list of broad topics included in each of the housing and population record files.
• Data Dictionary: Full listing of all variables (and values) included in each of the housing and population record files.
• Top and Bottom Coded Values: Uncommon responses, such as particularly high income, are grouped into broader categories; this document explains when and where we have modified values. 

More documentation will be released on January 19th along with the 2011-2015 ACS 5-year PUMS files.

New and updated information related to this release is available now on the 2015 Data Release page.