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December 23, 2008

Headline News

Utah is Fastest-Growing, based on State Population Estimates: July 1, 2008. (Released December 22, 2008)

Number of Americans With a Disability Reaches 54.4 Million. (Released December 18, 2008)

Profile of Older Workers: 2004 - West Virginia. (Released December 17, 2008)

Health Care Costs, Biofuel Use Among Subjects in Census Bureau's 2009 Statistical Abstract. (Released December 17, 2008)

Privately-Owned Housing Starts in November 2008 Were at a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate of 625,000. This Is 18.9 Percent Below the Revised October 2008 Estimate of 771,000. (Released December 16, 2008)

Facts for Features: Valentine's Day 2009: February 14. (Released December 16, 2008)

Global Births Increasing Even as Fertility Rates Decline. (Released December 15, 2008)

U.S. Retail and Food Service Sales for November Reached $355.7 Billion, a Decrease of 1.8 Percent from the Previous Month. (Released December 12, 2008)

U.S. Total Business Sales for October Were $1,118.7 Billion, Down 3.5 Percent From Last Month. Month-End Inventories Were $1,497.0 Billion, Down 0.6 Percent From Last Month. (Released December 12, 2008)

 

Fact of the Day

2008 State Population Estimates Are Here!

Six of the 10 fastest-growing states from 2007 to 2008 were Rocky Mountain states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah (fastest growing state), and Wyoming. Three others lined the South Atlantic coast: Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The West was the fastest-growing region (1.4 percent) between 2007 and 2008, but the South added the highest number of people over the period (1.4 million). The 2008 state estimates are available online.

 

Hot Tip

On The Map - New Version!

The U.S. Census Bureau has just released a new version of its Local Employment Dynamics mapping tool, OnTheMap, with five years of employment and industry data for local areas in 46 partner states accessible free online.

OnTheMap Version 3 application allows users to:

Version 3.2 adds New York as the 46th State to the mapping tool for the first time, with additional geographic rollups for Shed Analyses. OnTheMap is supported by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor and the state partners in the Local Employment Dynamics partnership with the Census Bureau. You can access OnTheMap by selecting "Local Employment Dynamics" at http://www.census.gov and then OnTheMap under Quick Links, or directly at http://lehd.did.census.gov. Comments should be sent to CES.Local.Employment.Dynamics@census.gov.

 

Recently Released

Population

Americans with Disabilities: 2005 (PDF; 638 KB). Online publication and detailed tables containing National-level data on the socioeconomic characteristics of people with disabilities, such as poverty, program participation, employment status, and earnings. Includes estimates of people with a wide range of specific disabilities, e.g., difficulty seeing or hearing, the need for personal assistance with preparing meals, the use of a wheelchair, and Alzheimer's.

American Community Survey 2005-2007 Data Release. On December 9, 2008 the Census Bureau released the first set of three-year American Community Survey data for all geographies with populations greater than 20,000. The release provides the first look at detailed socioeconomic and housing characteristics for geographies between 20,000 and 64,999 since Census 2000.

International Data Base. The world population is undergoing constant changes in fertility, infant mortality, life expectancy, and other factors. Which countries have fertility rates at or above replacement levels? Will the annual number of births peak anytime soon? Answers to these and other questions about the population of the world's 225 countries can be found in this 2008 update.

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2006 and 2007. These tables provide estimates of income and poverty for states and counties, as well as estimates of poverty and population for school districts, median household income, and poverty rates of various age groups. SAIPE provides annual updates for the administration of federal programs and the allocation of federal funds to local jurisdictions.

State Population Estimates: July 1, 2008. Internet tables showing July 1, 2008, population estimates and components of change for the nation, states, and Puerto Rico.


Economic Indicators

Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services: November 2008. 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.

Manufacturing and Trade: Inventories and Sales: October 2008. Press release showing sales, inventories, and inventories-to-sales ratios for the combined domestic activities of retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers.

Housing Starts and Building Permits: November 2008. Press release showing data for housing starts, completions, and building permits.

New Residential Sales: November 2008. Press release reporting new one-family houses sold and for sale. Includes sales prices, months on the market, and stage of construction.

Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufactures' Shipments and Orders: November 2008. Press release showing advance information on key business indicators.


Economic Census and Surveys

Business Dynamics Statistics. New data tool provides a unique way to track annual changes in employment at the establishment level by business size and age.

2007 Commodity Flow Survey. Tracking value, tonnage, mileage, and mode of transportation, this survey provides new data on the movement of goods in the United States. It covers mining, manufacturing, wholesale, and selected retail trade and service industries.

Older Worker Profiles. Reports (will be released for each of over 30 states) providing a detailed picture of workers 55 and older at the county and metropolitan area levels for 2004. Based on data from the Local Employment Dynamics program, the reports highlight the age of the states' work force, job gains, and losses, industries in which older workers are concentrated, job stability, and earnings. The following states are available as of the publish date of this newsletter:


Governments

2007 State Government Finances. Complete information on the financial ctivity of all 50 state governments. Data cover revenues by type (taxes and federal aid), expenditures by character (current operations, capital outlay, payments to other governments), expenditures by function (welfare, health, education, natural resources), indebtedness, and cash and security holdings. Complete statistics on local government finances will be released in the summer of 2009 from the 2007 Census of Governments.


Reference and Compendia

Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009. "Uncle Sam's Almanac" presents its usual dazzling array of statistics on topics from "A" (aerobics) to "Z" (zinc production). Published since 1878, the upcoming 128th edition includes several dozen new tables and more than 1,400 overall, describing life in our nation and the world.

Facts for Features: Valentine's Day

The 2008 Holiday Season

 

Upcoming Releases

Population

The American Community Survey: What the Media Needs to Know. A new handbook that describes how the ACS is designed, key concepts and how to get the most out of the survey data. It explains the various ways to find and access ACS data and the best ways for novice and experienced journalists to use the estimates. Step-by-step articles are included on how journalists have used the ACS to find and improve their published work.

Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007. Internet tables detail education levels by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, marital status, nativity, occupation and other demographic characteristics at the national level.

Foreign-Born Characteristics: 2007. There were an estimated 38 million people in 2007 living in the United States who were born outside of the country. New data profiles show educational attainment, income, year of entry, occupations, and more based on a group's country of birth. For example, Chinese-born residents in one part of the country are much more likely to graduate high school than others.

New Year's Day Population. The Census Bureau rings in the year with its annual projection of the nation's population for January 1, 2009. The release will include birth, death, and net international migration rates.


Economic Census and Surveys

2007 State and Local Government Public Employee-Retirement Systems. Annual data on revenues, expenditures, financial assets and membership for public employee-retirement systems. Data are shown for individual retirement systems as well as aggregately at the national, state and local levels.

2007 Service Annual Survey: Health Care and Social Assistance. From kidney dialysis to community food services, from chiropractors to optometrists, this sector focuses on care providers for individuals, whether medical care or social assistance. Users can track revenue by dollar figures or percent change.


Economic Indicators

Construction Spending (Put-in-Place): November 2009. 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 January 5, 2009.

Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders: November 2009. Press release showing information on key business indicators. Shows revised durable goods totals, in addition to nondurable goods manufacturers' shipments, inventories, and orders. Scheduled for release January 6, 2009.

Quarterly Financial Report for Retail Trade: Third Quarter, 2008. Press release shows third quarter sales of large retail trade corporations. Includes large U.S. retailers' after-tax profits. Scheduled for release January 7, 2009.

Monthly Wholesale Trade: November 2009. 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 January 9, 2009.


Governments

2007 State and Local Government Public Employee-Retirement Systems. Annual data on revenues, expenditures, financial assets and membership for public employee-retirement systems. Data are shown for individual retirement systems and aggregated at the national, state, and local levels.


Reference and Compendia

Facts for Features:

African-American History Month (February). To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, the Census Bureau presents a collection of demographic and economic statistics about the black community.

St. Patrick's Day and Irish-American Heritage Month (March). May the "luck o' the Irish" be with you as you peruse this edition of the Facts for Features. It is filled with statistical information from the Census Bureau's demographic and economic subject areas on the nation's Irish-American population and other facets of this celebration of all things Irish.

Women's History Month (March). In commemoration of this annual observance highlighting and celebrating the varied and historic accomplishments of women, this edition provides statistical information on topics such as earnings, education, business ownership, voting, occupations, military service and marriage.

 

December 12, 2008

Headline News

The Nation's International Deficit in Goods and Services Increased to $57.2 Billion in October From $56.6 Billion (Revised) in September. (Released December 11, 2008)

U.S. Information Sector Revenue for the Third Quarter of 2008, Not Adjusted for Seasonal Variation, Holiday or Trading-Day Differences, or Price Changes, Was $283.8 Billion. (Released December 11, 2008)

October 2008 Sales of Merchant Wholesalers Were $377.4 Billion, Down 4.1 Percent From Last Month. (Released December 10, 2008)

Profiles of Older Workers: 2004 - Idaho. (Released December 10, 2008)

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2006 and 2007. (Released December 10, 2008)

American Community Survey Gives Midsized Areas Their First Detailed Update Since 2000. (Released December 9, 2008)

Commodity Flow Survey Shows U.S. Businesses Ship Nearly $12 Trillion in Goods in 2007. (Released December 9, 2008)

Manufacturing Corporations' Seasonally Adjusted After-Tax Profits Averaged 7.5 Cents Per Dollar of Sales for the Third Quarter of 2008. (Released December 8, 2008)

New Orders for Manufactured Goods in October Decreased $21.9 Billion or 5.1 Percent to $407.4 Billion. (Released December 4, 2008)

Census Bureau Announces a New Product for Tracking Business Activity. (Released December 2, 2008)

Facts for Features: Black (African-American) History Month: February 2009. (Released December 2, 2008)

Total Construction Activity for October 2008 ($1,072.6 Billion) Was 1.2 Percent Below the Revised September 2008 ($1,085.7 Billion) Figure. (Released December 1, 2008)

 

Fact of the Day

Midsized Places

Nine midsized places (cities and towns with populations between 20,000 and 64,999) have median family income exceeding $150,000: Los Altos, California; Darien, Connecticut; Westport, Connecticut; Lake Forest, Illinois; Bethesda, Maryland; Potomac, Maryland; Southlake, Texas; University Park, Texas; and McLean, Virginia.

In three midsized places, at least 10 percent of the housing units were built in 2005 or later: Goodyear, Arizona; Lehigh Acres, Florida; and North Port, Florida. The national average is 1.9 percent. Of the 20 midsized places with median home values of $900,000 or greater, 18 were in California, and two were in Connecticut. In nine midsized places, at least 25 percent of the population 18 and over were veterans: Sierra Vista, Arizona; Radcliff, Kentucky; Hinesville, Georgia; Oak Harbor, Washington; Copperas Cove, Texas; Sun City West, Arizona; Harker Heights, Texas; Havelock, North Carolina; and Green Valley, Arizona. Read more about these data from the American Community Survey!

 

Hot Tip

American Community Survey Gives Midsized Areas Their First Detailed Update Since 2000

New data released on December 9, 2008 by the U.S. Census Bureau gives more than 2,500 midsized counties, cities, and towns nationwide (those with populations between 20,000 and 64,999) their first statistical "portrait" since the 2000 Census on a wide range of key socioeconomic and housing topics.

These are the first American Community Survey (ACS) estimates that combine three years of survey responses (2005-2007) to produce data. The technique makes it possible to release a new set of multiyear estimates annually for smaller geographic areas. The three-year data can produce estimates for areas with populations as small as 20,000. Find out more about these new data today!

 

Recently Released

Population

American Community Survey 2005-2007 Data Release. On December 9, 2008 the Census Bureau released the first set of three-year American Community Survey data for all geographies with populations greater than 20,000. The release provides the first look at detailed socioeconomic and housing characteristics for geographies between 20,000 and 64,999 since Census 2000.

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2006 and 2007. These tables provide estimates of income and poverty for states and counties, as well as estimates of poverty and population for school districts, median household income, and poverty rates of various age groups. SAIPE provides annual updates for the administration of federal programs and the allocation of federal funds to local jurisdictions.


Economic Indicators

Construction Spending (Put-in-Place): October 2008. 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: October 2008. Press release showing information on key business indicators. Shows revised durable goods totals, in addition to nondurable goods manufacturers' shipments, inventories, and orders.

Quarterly Financial Report: Manufacturing, Mining, and Wholesale Trade: 3rd Quarter 2008. Press release showing up-to-date aggregate statistics on U.S. manufacturing, mining, and wholesale trade corporations.

Monthly Wholesale Trade: October 2008. 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.

Quarterly Services Survey: 3rd Quarter 2008. Press release showing quarterly estimates of total operating revenue and the percentage of revenue by class of customer for the services industries.

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: October 2008. Press release showing monthly exports, general imports (including data by country), and limited data on imports for consumption.


Economic Census and Surveys

Business Dynamics Statistics. New data tool provides a unique way to track annual changes in employment at the establishment level by business size and age.

2007 Commodity Flow Survey. Tracking value, tonnage, mileage, and mode of transportation, this survey provides new data on the movement of goods in the United States. It covers mining, manufacturing, wholesale, and selected retail trade and service industries.

North American Transportation in Figures. Report providing a comprehensive overview of transportation statistics in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Each language edition - English, Spanish, and French, contains more than 30 data tables. Statistics include modes of transportation, fuel consumption, number of passengers, fatalities, and more.

Older Worker Profiles. Reports (will be released for each of over 30 states) providing a detailed picture of workers 55 and older at the county and metropolitan area levels for 2004. Based on data from the Local Employment Dynamics program, the reports highlight the age of the states' work force, job gains, and losses, industries in which older workers are concentrated, job stability, and earnings. The following states are available as of the publish date of this newsletter:

Iowa (PDF - 1.31 MB)
Maine (PDF - 1.45 MB)
Vermont (PDF - 762 KB)
Indiana (PDF - 1.53 MB)
Arkansas (PDF - 1.81 MB)
Hawaii (PDF - 558 KB)
Delaware (PDF - 464 KB)
Colorado (PDF - 779 KB)
Wisconsin (PDF - 766 KB)
New Jersey (PDF - 800 KB)
Maryland (PDF - 1.03 MB)
Kentucky (PDF - 1.58 MB)
Oklahoma (PDF - 696 KB)
South Carolina (PDF - 1.34 MB)
Montana (PDF - 1.03 MB)
Oregon (PDF - 756 KB)
New Mexico (PDF - 486 KB)
Tennessee (PDF - 1.13 MB)
Washington (PDF - 1.03 MB)
Pennsylvania (PDF - 1.03 MB)
Minnesota (PDF - 736 KB)
Virginia (PDF - 2.37 MB)
Missouri (PDF - 849 KB)
North Dakota (PDF - 704 KB)
Idaho (PDF - 932 KB)


Governments

2007 State Government Finances. Complete information on the financial activity of all 50 state governments. Data cover revenues by type (taxes and federal aid), expenditures by character (current operations, capital outlay, payments to other governments), expenditures by function (welfare, health, education, natural resources), indebtedness, and cash and security holdings. Complete statistics on local government finances will be released in the summer of 2009 from the 2007 Census of Governments.


Reference and Compendia

The 2008 Holiday Season

American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month (November)

Thanksgiving Day (November 27)

 

Upcoming Releases

Population

Americans with Disabilities: 2005. National-level data on the socioeconomic characteristics of people with disabilities, such as poverty, program participation, employment status, and earnings. Includes estimates of people with a wide range of specific disabilities, e.g., difficulty seeing or hearing, the need for personal assistance with preparing meals, the use of a wheelchair, and Alzheimer's.

Foreign-Born Characteristics: 2007. There were an estimated 38 million people in 2007 living in the United States who were born outside of the country. New data profiles show educational attainment, income, year of entry, occupations, and more based on a group's country of birth. For example, Chinese-born residents in one part of the country are much more likely to graduate high school than others.

State Population Estimates: July 1, 2008. Internet tables showing July 1, 2008, population estimates and components of change for the nation, states, and Puerto Rico.

New Year's Day Population. The Census Bureau rings in the year with its annual projection of the nation's population for January 1, 2009. The release will include birth, death, and net international migration rates.

International Data Base. The world population is undergoing constant changes in fertility, infant mortality, life expectancy, and other factors. Which countries have fertility rates at or above replacement levels? Will the annual number of births peak anytime soon? Answers to these and other questions about the population of the world's 225 countries can be found in this 2008 update.


Economic Indicators

Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services: November 2008. 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 December 12, 2008.

Manufacturing and Trade: Inventories and Sales: October 2008. Press release showing sales, inventories, and inventories-to-sales ratios for the combined domestic activities of retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers. Scheduled for release December 12, 2008.

Housing Starts and Building Permits: November 2008. Press release showing data for housing starts, completions, and building permits. Scheduled for release December 16, 2008

New Residential Sales: November 2008. 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 December 23, 2008.

Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufactures' Shipments and Orders: November 2008. Press release showing advance information on key business indicators. Scheduled for release December 24, 2008.


Governments

2007 State and Local Government Public Employee-Retirement Systems. Annual data on revenues, expenditures, financial assets and membership for public employee-retirement systems. Data are shown for individual retirement systems and aggregated at the national, state, and local levels.


Reference and Compendia

Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009. "Uncle Sam's Almanac" presents its usual dazzling array of statistics on topics from "A" (aerobics) to "Z" (zinc production). Published since 1878, the upcoming 128th edition includes several dozen new tables and more than 1,400 overall, describing life in our nation and the world.

Facts for Features: African-American History Month (February). To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, the Census Bureau presents a collection of demographic and economic statistics about the black community.

Facts for Features: Valentine's Day. The year's most romantic edition features a collection of statistics on chocolates, flowers, jewelry, and marriage, among other topics.