Agencies of the Federal government provide some of the best sources for finding statistics.  Many agencies have collected data on topics relevant to their mission for years.  It has always been a challenge to find statistical data in print publications, as the titles are not always descriptive of the contents.  With the advent of web publishing, it is now easier than ever to locate current statistics in many areas.

The below list is a just sample of sites available. After reviewing this list, try the questions at the end.

Comprehensive

• One of the best sites for locating statistics in several subject areas

• Collection of statistics from more than 100 Federal agencies

• Frequently requested tables of national and state data; the entire publication is viewable with PDF software, or tables can be accessed with Excel.

• Collection of large numeric data sets, as well as a gateway to many statistical sites

• Data from the Current Population Survey and the Survey of Income and Program Participation and several other surveys are available either in pre-made tables or with the ability to build custom tables and extracts.

Demographic

• The most comprehensive site for U. S. demographic data

• 1990 and 2000 Census data; 100% and sample population and housing data

Economic

• Trade statistics, market research reports for countries, daily economic releases. Access by subscription; one free subscription to each depository library. Some of the information in this database is accessible free through issuing agency.

Regional Accounts Data Bureau of Economic Analysis

• Local area economic data for states, counties and metropolitan areas

• Monthly statistics prepared for Congress by the Council of Economic Advisors.

• Employment and labor statistics; includes Producer, Consumer and International Price Indexes data

• County, city, state economic data

Education

• Comprehensive site from U. S. Department of Education; includes contents of Digest of Education Statistics, Condition of Education, Projections of Education Statistics to 2016, and many other reports

• Educational Resources Information Center: A question-and-answer service and virtual library

Health

• Access to full text of many publications; may require PDF software

• Query system for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health statistics

Crime

• Data accessible by subject; links to state and local agency statistics

TRACFBI (Syracuse University)

• Comprehensive, independent, and non-partisan information about the FBI

Uniform Crime Reports County Data

• Univ. of Virginia interactive system for retrieving county level crimes and arrest data

Miscellaneous

Economic Research Service Department of Agriculture

Energy Information Administration

Internal Revenue Service Tax Statistics

National Agricultural Statistics Service

 

Questions 1. What was the population in 2000 for Santa Barbara County? 2. What is the latest level of the Consumer Price Index? 3. What resources are listed under "Business and Industry" at the University of Michigan? Under  "Demographics"? 4. How many men and women 35 and over were enrolled in colleges in 1970? In 1990? Projected for 2010? 5. How many cases of sexually transmitted diseases were reported by state health departments in 1950? In 2000? 6. What percent of murder victims in 2001 were males? Answers

 

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