America’s farmers dug up more than 23 million tons of potatoes in 2002 and the nation’s clothing stores sold nearly $600 in apparel for every man, woman and child. These are but two of the thousands of facts in the new edition of the national statistical compendium released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

     The 1,000-plus-page Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2003 includes 72 new tables covering topics such as the characteristics of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the death rates of Hispanics and the ratios of debt payments to family income. Altogether, the new edition contains more than 1,400 tables and charts with statistics from the most recent years or periods available.

     The Abstract, published every year since 1878, features a new section with selected data for each district in the 108th Congress. An appendix lists the new metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, which were designated last year by the Office of Management and Budget. The Census Bureau publication shows 2002 population estimates for these areas.

     Highlights include:

     Diverse Topics:

• In 2002, there were 4,432 elected officials of Hispanic origin, an increase of almost 41 percent since 1985.
  
• The number of orphans admitted as immigrants to the United States more than doubled, from 9,384 in 1995 to 19,087 in 2001.
  
• A weekly low-cost food plan for a family of four (with two children under age 6) increased from $87.30 in 1990 to $117.00 in 2002.
  
• More than 1.4 million inmates filled federal and state prisons in 2001, an increase of 82 percent since 1990.

    The Economy:

• The leading exporters of crude oil to the United States in 2002 were Saudi Arabia (554 million barrels), Mexico (548 million barrels) and Canada (527 million barrels).
  
• U.S. production of cheese increased from about 6.1 billion pounds in 1990 to 8.6 billion pounds in 2002, with the largest increase coming in Italian varieties (1.3 billion pounds).
  
• The average cost of attending college full time and year-round (undergraduate schools), including room and board, was $14,710 in 1999-2000.
  
• The median net worth of families reached $86,100 in 2001, up from $78,000 in 1998 (constant 2001 dollars used).
  
• There were 45.3 million Social Security beneficiaries in the United States in  2002. California had the highest number (4.3 million) and Alaska the fewest (59,000).

     Pets and Weather:

• In 2001, 36 percent of all households owned a dog and 32 percent had a cat.
  
• Greenland Ranch, Calif., holds the U.S. record for highest temperature recorded: 134 degrees Fahrenheit in 1913; while Prospect Creek, Alaska, recorded the lowest temperature: minus 80 degrees in 1971.

     The 2003 Statistical Abstract may be obtained by calling the U.S. Government Printing Office on (202) 512-1800 (ISBN No. 003-024-09050-3, $40 for the softbound edition; and No. 003-024-09049-0, $49 for the hardbound edition <http://bookstore.gpo.gov/>).

     It also may be obtained by calling the National Technical Information Service on (800) 553-6847 (PB2003-965801, $40 for the softbound edition; and PB2003-965301, $49 for the hardbound edition <http://www.ntis.gov/>).

     A CD-ROM version of the book will be available later.

-X-