U.S. Government Statistics

Ellen ArmstrongLIS 60601

October 16, 2008

http://www.fedstats.gov

•statistics and modeling from more than 100 government agencies

•consolidated and searchable

What You’ll Find

•economic information

•crime

•education

•health & safety

•energy

Ways to Access Info

•Browse or search by subject area

•Browse or search by gov’t agency which provides the information

Suppose you need to know…

“Are the number of school shootings increasing at the national level?”

Possible answer...

•Link Followed: Education - Crime in Schools - IES National Center for Education Stats- List of Tables - Table 1.1

•Points to consider: age of students, fatal vs. non-fatal, suicide vs. homicide, at school vs. not at school, how recent is the info?

What if you’re asked...

•“Are more people committing crimes now than in the past?”

Possible Answer...

•Link: Labor Force - Courts and Sentencing - Bureau of Justice Stats - Summary Findings

•Points to consider: felony convictions increasing over ten year period - does that answer the question?

Links from fedstats

•Statistical Reference Shelf

•http://www.fedstats.gov/fast.html

•Federal Statistics Briefing Room

•http://www.whitehouse.gov/fsbr/esbr.html

•http://www.whitehouse.gov/fsbr/ssbr.html

http://www.stat-usa.gov/

•business, economic and trade information

•from US Dept. of Commerce

What You’ll Find

•State of the Nation: trends of the US economy

•GLOBUS & National Trade Data Bank (NTDB): international commerce, exchange rates, market research

•consumer price index, housing starts & permits, real earnings

What if you’re asked…

“How many building permits were issued in August 2008?”

Possible Answer…

•Search: “building permits housing” and limit to post 8/1/08

•Browse: State of the Nation – Housing Starts and Building permits

•Points to consider: building vs. permit vs. completion, etc.

Remember when using statistics…

•Consider the population: who or what is being counted

•Consider the timeline being measured

Questions?