Census Bureau Tip Sheet

April 24, 2009                                                                                                             TP09-09

Upcoming

Emergency Planning and Preparation — The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the number of people living in areas that could be most affected by acts of nature, and uses data from the American Community Survey and other sources to show demographic and economic information, such as median housing values, median income, access to vehicles and poverty levels. The local data is critical to emergency planning, preparedness and recovery efforts. The data for areas affected by Red River flooding in North Dakota and Minnesota will be available in late April/early May. The Census Bureau’s Emergency Planning and Preparation site may be accessed at <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/emergencies/index.html>

Demographic

Educational Attainment in the United States: 2008 — How much more annual income is a college degree worth? Internet tables from the Current Population Survey’s Annual Social and Economic Supplement detail education levels by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, marital status, nativity, occupation and other demographic characteristics at the national level. (Scheduled for release April 27.)

Who Could Afford to Buy a Home in 2004? — The latest in a periodic series of reports measuring changes in housing affordability for families and individuals (both owners and renters). This report examines the affordability of homes at different price levels, chances of affordability by demographic characteristic, reasons why families and unrelated individuals couldn’t afford a home, and the impact of possible policy changes (such as modified down payments and interest rates) on affordability for renters. The data were collected from the Survey of Income and Program Participation. (Tentatively scheduled for release in early May.)

Estimates of U.S. Population by Age, Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin: July 1, 2008 — Is the nation getting younger or older? Are there more men than women? Is the minority population growing? National-level population estimates cross-tabulated by these demographic characteristics provide the answers. (Tentatively scheduled for release in mid-May.)

Estimates of State and County Population by Age, Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin: July 1, 2008 — More of the nation’s 3,142 counties are becoming majority-minority, meaning more than 50 percent of their population is made up of people other than single-race, non-Hispanic whites. Tables of population estimates by demographic characteristics are available for the nation’s states and counties. (Tentatively scheduled for release in mid-May.)

Population Change in Central and Outlying Counties of Metropolitan Statistical Areas: 2000 to 2007 — Analysis of population change and the demographic components of change in both core and outlying portions of metropolitan areas. This change is examined by region and division and metropolitan area population size category, as well as for 12 of the most populous metropolitan areas. (Tentatively scheduled for release in mid/late May.)

Economic

2007 Economic Census: Securities and Commodities Exchanges — These are the first in a series of national-level data files on the finance and insurance sectors in 2007. The files provide data on the number of establishments, revenue, payroll, number of employees, value of product line sales and other data items by industry. Data for other finance and insurance sectors will be released through December. (Tentatively scheduled for release in late April.)

2007 Economic Census: Passenger Transportation — These are the first in a series of national-level data files on the transportation and warehousing sectors in 2007. The files provide data on the number of establishments, revenue, payroll, number of employees, value of product line sales and other data items by industry. Data for other transportation and warehousing sectors will be released through December. (Tentatively scheduled for release in late April.)

2007 Economic Census: Fertilizer Manufacturers — This is the first in a series of national-level data files on the manufacturing sector in 2007. The files provide data on the number of establishments, shipments, payroll, number of employees, value of product shipments and other data items by industry. Data for other manufacturing industries will be released through September. (Tentatively scheduled for release in early May.)

Quarterly Public-Employee Retirement Systems Survey: 4th Quarter 2008 — This survey provides quarterly summary data on assets, revenue and expenditure of the largest public-employee retirement systems in the United States, which comprise about 85 percent of national activity among such entities. It provides the most current data about investment decisions by public employee retirement systems, which are among the largest types of institutional investors in the U.S. financial markets. These reports are published three months after each calendar quarter, and show national financial transactions and trends for the past five years. (Scheduled for release April 30.)

Facts for Features

The Fourth of July — The Census Bureau celebrates the nation’s 233rd birthday in style with a collection of statistics on flags, fireworks and food. (Scheduled for release May 4.)

Broadcast/Photo/Multimedia/Television

Radio

Profile America and Al Día (Spanish) for April and May — Profile Profile America is a daily, 60-second audio feature that uses interesting vignettes from key events, observances or commemorations for that day to highlight information collected by the Census Bureau. Upcoming segments include the lifesaving medical breakthrough in “Insulin” (April 28) and the beginning of the Big Board in “New York Stock Exchange” (May 17). The April and May daily features are available at <http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/broadcast/radio/index.html>.

The URL for MP3 downloads, WAV files and subscription podcast access is
<http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/broadcast/radio/profile_america/index.html>.
Profile America and Al Día daily features may be downloaded individually and for the entire month via zip files at
<http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/broadcast/radio/index.html>.

Recently Released

(Since April 10, 2009)

Demographic

Geographical Mobility: 2008 — April 22 — The U.S. residential mover rate declined to 11.9 percent in 2008 — the lowest rate since the Census Bureau began tracking these data in 1948. About 35 million people changed residences, the smallest number to move since 1962.
Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/mobility_of_the_population/013609.html>.

USA Counties — April 16 — This is the latest update for a product that contains more than 6,000 data items for the nation, states and counties from a variety of sources. It now includes the 2008 population estimates (including components of change); 2007 Social Security programs data (benefit recipients and payments in total and for retired workers, widows and widowers, and disabled workers); 2006 FBI crime data by type of crime; 2006-2007 public school enrollment data; and 2007 local area government data (employment and payroll). Internet address: <http://censtats.census.gov/usa/usa.shtml>.

Economic

2007 Economic Census: Used Merchandise Store Sales — April 16 — This is the first in a series of national-level data files on the retail trade sector in 2007. The files provide data on the number of establishments, sales, payroll, number of employees, value of product line sales and other data items by industry. Data for other retail trade industries will be released through October.
Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/economic_census/013552.html>.

Facts for Features

Father’s Day — April 21 — The Census Bureau honors the estimated 64.3 million fathers across the country with a collection of statistical information pertaining to Father’s Day, from stay-at-home dads to time spent with their children.
Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/013535.html>.

Broadcast/Photo/Multimedia/Television

Video

2010 Census: A New Portrait of America — New versions of this informational video (including one in Spanish) address varied audiences and explain how the 2010 Census will benefit people of every race and ethnicity. Testimonials describe the importance of a complete and accurate count and why the 2010 Census will be the most important count in our nation’s history. It shows data collection operations in action. Running times vary (3-5 minutes).
Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/broadcast/video/index.html>.

Address Canvassing B-Roll — April kicked off the Census Bureau’s extensive program to check addresses nationwide. Field representatives are using hand-held computers to update the address information so that 2010 Census questionnaires can be mailed or delivered to every address. Running time: 2:00.
Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/broadcast/video/census_operations/013532.html>.

Hand-Held Computer Demonstration — Close-up demonstration of the hand-held computer used to verify addresses, add new addresses and delete addresses that have no housing unit associated with them (see above) in preparation of the 2010 Census address list. Running time: 2:14.
Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/broadcast/video/census_operations/013546.html>.

Radio

Profile America and Al Día (Spanish) for April — Profile America segments included a hard-boiled report on “Egg Salad Week” (April 12) and the story of going to ground in the “Oklahoma Land Rush” (April 22). Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/broadcast/radio/index.html>.

Photo Gallery

2010 Census Address Canvassing B-Roll — April kicked off the Census Bureau’s extensive program to check addresses nationwide. Photos show field representatives using hand-held computers to update the address information so that 2010 Census questionnaires can be mailed or delivered to every address.
Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/broadcast/photos/census_bureau/013531.html>.

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News releases, reports, data tables and radio transcripts are available on the Public Information Office’s Web page at <http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/news.html>. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office at 301-763-3030 or 301-763-3691; fax 301-763-3762; or e-mail <pio@census.gov>.