Newsroom

Census Bureau Tip Sheet

A product of the U.S. Census Bureau's Public Information Office

Upcoming

Transition of American FactFinder — The legacy version of American FactFinder — the Census Bureau's statistics and information search engine — will no longer be available as of Jan. 20. Nearly all of the information from the older version has been uploaded to the new American FactFinder website, including previous years of American Community Survey estimates and statistics from the economic census and other business surveys. When the older version of FactFinder is discontinued, any deep links or bookmarks in the system will no longer work. A how-to guide for Building Deep Links in the new American FactFinder is available online, along with tutorials on searching, bookmarking and using the other features of the new site.

2010 Census

2010 Census Summary File 2 — This file provides detailed demographic information from the 2010 Census for up to 331 detailed race and ethnic groups down to the census tract level, adding a new layer of detail to the population and housing topics previously released from the census. The statistics are being released on a state-by-state flow basis and will be offered on embargo. For more information on the release process, visit the Summary File 2 press kit. (Scheduled for release December through May.)

Demographic

Webinar: Overview of 2012 Release Schedule for the July 1, 2011, Population Estimates — A look at the various sets of population estimates for the nation, states, counties and cities to be released in 2012. Background information on the estimates program, including methodology, sources of the data and components of change, will also be discussed. (Scheduled for January.)

Estimates of State Voting-Age Population: July 1, 2011 — Estimates of the number of people 18 and older in each state and Puerto Rico. The downloadable file will also include total population and the percentage of people 18 and older. These are the first estimates since 2010 Census tabulations were released. (Scheduled for release Jan. 5.)

School Enrollment in the United States: 2010 — These national-level statistics describe a wide variety of student characteristics at all levels of school, from nursery to graduate. The tables provide information by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, family income, type of college, employment status and vocational course enrollment. The statistics are produced from the October School Enrollment Supplement to the Current Population Survey; historical tables are provided. (Scheduled for release in January.)

Economic

Annual Survey of Public-Employment Retirement Systems: 2010 — Provides an annual look at the financial activity of the nation's state and local public employee retirement systems, including cash and security investment holdings, receipts and payments. Shows employee and government contributions. Data are shown for individual states. (Scheduled for release in January.)

Economic Indicators — The Census Bureau releases statistics that provide monthly, quarterly and yearly updates on key measures of the nation's economic condition. Upcoming releases include construction spending, manufacturers' shipments, inventories and orders, monthly wholesale trade sales and inventories. For the latest releases and schedule, go to <http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/briefroom/BriefRm>.

Profile America — 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. (Scheduled for release in January.)

Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) — To celebrate this holiday, the Census Bureau highlights a range of information including data on chocolates, flowers, jewelry and marriage. (Scheduled for release in January.)

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. (Tentatively scheduled for release in January.)

Irish-American Heritage Month (March) and St. Patrick's Day (March 17) — You may not find a pot of gold at the end of this edition of Facts for Features, but you will find it useful and informative nonetheless. 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. (Scheduled for release in January.)

Super Bowl XLVI (Feb. 5) — An array of statistics from the Census Bureau relating to the 46th edition of our most celebrated sporting event. The game has evolved into the nation's most-watched television broadcast of the year and the day on which it occurs, Super Bowl Sunday, into a de facto national observance. Includes data for Indianapolis, site of the big game, as well as cities represented by the two participating NFL teams. (Scheduled for release in late January.)

Broadcast/Photo/Multimedia/Television

Radio

Profile America and Al Día (Spanish) for December and January — Upcoming segments include taking a cup of kindness yet in “New Year's Eve” (Dec. 31) and sealing the deal in “Tin Can Invented” (Jan. 19).

The daily features are available at <http://www.census.gov/multimedia/www/radio/>, with download options for MP3 (including podcast subscription) and WAV or zip files for the entire month (MP3).

Recently Released

(Released since Dec. 16, 2011)

New Features on Census Bureau Internet Home Page — Dec. 21 — In an effort to improve navigation, improve ease of use and make statistics more discoverable, the U.S. Census Bureau launched new features on the census.gov home page. Users will now see an economic dashboard with key indicators generated by the Census Bureau prominently located on the upper right. Visitors will also find a new interactive map that shows in-depth business and demographic information for the nation, states and counties.

There is also a “Stat of the Day” highlighting Census Bureau statistics. Navigation has also been improved by grouping links into themes. Those familiar with the features and links such as QuickFacts and the 2010 Population Finder will still find them on the new home page along with a feedback button to provide comments on their overall experience with the new design. This is the first step in a series of improvements to the census.gov website that will be made over the coming year. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/>

American Community Survey

Comparison of ACS and CPS Data on Employment Status — Dec. 20 — This working paper examines differences in estimates for national and state employment status between two different Census Bureau surveys: the Current Population Survey and the American Community Survey (ACS). The paper finds that changes in the wording of employment status questions beginning with the 2008 ACS have resulted in fewer significant discrepancies between the two data products. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/laborfor/compare-acs-cps.html>.

Demographic

New Year's Day Population — Dec. 20 — The Census Bureau will ring in the year with its annual projection of the nation's population for Jan. 1, 2012. The release will include birth, death and net international migration rates.
Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb11-219.html>

State Population Estimates: July 1, 2011 — Dec. 21 — The Census Bureau released the first set of state population estimates since the official 2010 Census reapportionment counts were released in December 2010. Internet tables show July 1, 2011, population estimates and components of change for the nation, states and Puerto Rico. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb11-215.html>.

Economic

Finances of Selected State and Local Government Employee Retirement Systems: 3rd Quarter 2011 — Dec. 28 — This quarterly survey provides national summary statistics on the revenues, expenditures and composition of assets of the 100 largest state and local public employee retirement systems in the United States. This survey presents the most current statistics about investment decisions by state and local public employee retirement systems, which are among the largest types of institutional investors in the U.S. financial markets. These statistical tables are published three months after each calendar quarter and show national financial transactions and trends for the past five years. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/govs/qpr/>.

2011 3rd Quarter Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue — Dec. 20 — This summary shows quarterly tax revenue statistics on property, sales, license, income and other taxes. Statistics are shown for individual state governments as well as national estimates of total state and local taxes, including 12-month calculations. This quarterly survey has been conducted continuously since 1962. Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/govs/qtax/>.

Broadcast/Photo/Multimedia/Television

Radio

Profile America and Al Día (Spanish) for December — Profile America segments included brewing discontent in “Boston Tea Party” (Dec. 16) and sound as the dollar in “The Federal Reserve” (Dec. 23). Internet address: <http://www.census.gov/multimedia/www/radio/profile_america/>.