Economics Research Guide: US Economic Data
A General Guide to Economics Research
Reference Books
The Historical Statistics of the United StatesIt has been more than 30 years since the Bureau of the Census published an edition of Historical Statistics of the United States. Previous editions were published by the Census Bureau in 1949, 1960, and 1975. The size of this statistical source has increased from two volumes to five, with more than 37,000 data series.- Survey of Current Business [Online] byPublication Date: MonthlyOne of the most important sources for current U.S. business statistics. Covers general business indicators, prices, domestic and foreign trade, labor force, employment and earnings, finance and the major industries. Special reports appear at intervals on national income and product accounts, international transactions, personal income and international investment both here and abroad.
Methodology
BLS Handbook of MethodsPublication Date: Dec. 1982-The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes a Handbook of Methods detailing their statistical concepts, definitions, sources, methods, and procedures.
US Economic Data
- American FactFinder . This link opens in a new windowAmerican FactFinder (AFF) is an online source for population, housing, economic and geographic data that presents the results from four key data programs: Decennial Census of Housing and Population , 1990 and 2000; American Community Survey, 2001-present; Population Estimates Program, 2005-present; Economic Census 1997 and 2002; Annual Economic Surveys, 2003-present.
- Data.govHome of the US Government's open data.
- Economic data : FRED. This link opens in a new windowDatabase containing U.S. economic time series. Data can be downloaded in in Microsoft Excel and text formats.
- EconoMagic.comLots of long time series, especially from US government agencies (Federal Reserve Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, etc.).
- Fedstats : the gateway to statistics from over 100 U.S. Federal agencies. This link opens in a new windowGateway to statistics and information produced by more than 100 U.S. government agencies. Searchable through an A-Z subject index, keyword searching across agency web sites linked to Fedstats, link to major statistical publications in the Statistical Reference Shelf, statistical profiles by geography, as well as direct links to agency contacts, news releases, and other navigational and organizational aids.
- Global insight . This link opens in a new windowConsists of economic time series data and financial market data for various countries throughout the world. Includes forecasts, commodities, demographics and other economic indicators.
- Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research : ICPSR direct. This link opens in a new windowICPSR holds the world's largest collection of computer-readable social science data. These data can be used for both research and instructional activities. Studies are comprised of documentation, data (may include versions ready formatted for SPSS or Stata), and program code.
- ProQuest statistical abstract of the U.S. . This link opens in a new windowThe ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United States is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions of the United States. The online version includes monthly updates to tables, deep searching at the line-item level, powerful facets for narrowing search results, image and spreadsheet versions of all current and historical tables, along with links to provider sites.
- ProQuest statistical insight . This link opens in a new windowProvides statistical data from U.S. government publications from 1973, state and private sources from 1980, and international organizations from 1983.
- Statistical abstract of the United States . This link opens in a new windowA statistical reference and guide to over 250 statistical publications and sources from government and private organizations. Provides more time-series, geographic and industry coverage than print publication.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)The BEA is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides important economic statistics including the gross domestic product of the United States.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Economy at a GlanceEasily accessible data on unemployment rates, hourly earnings, CPI and PPI. Data is for national, 4 regions, states and major MSA's