Finding Statistical Data

GENERAL SOURCES:

Statistical Abstract of the United States (demo)

www.census.gov/statab/www/

(Also print Main Ref J84: C3.134)

• statistics on many topics and from many sources
• source notes at bottom of each table may point to more complete sources
• HINT: Look in index under "State Data” to see all tables with state level data

SOURCES FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF DATA:

American Factfinder

factfinder.census.gov

Population/demographics, housing, socio-economic data such as educational attainment, poverty, grandparents as caregivers, and more (states, U.S., and many other geographic levels)

[Exercise] Fact Sheets in American Factfinder

Part A. Retrieve a state profile

- under Fast Access to Information select a state in the drop down list and click Go.

- click 2004 tab to show more recent estimates

- scroll down to “Social Characteristics”

- click “Show More” to see more detail

- look for data on “Grandparents”

- look for data on “Place of birth”

--Note: Census Bureau uses the term “foreign born”. The term “immigrants” does not appear in these tables.

Part B. Select another state

- scroll to top of page

- in left margin, click “Change Geography”

- open drop down menu next to “Select a geography” and select “State”. Choose a different state.

- click “Show Result”

The Kids Count Databook

http://www.kidscount.org

Indicators of child well-being (states, U.S.)

Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/

Consumer Price Index (CPI), Employment and unemployment

Consolidated Federal Funds Report (CFFR)

harvester.census.gov/cffr/index.html

Federal funds allocated to states for federal government programs

News and business sites:

Wall Street Journal (print and in Factiva in GALILEO)

CNNMoney money.cnn.com/

Marketwatch markets news http://www.marketwatch.com/news/markets

Bigcharts bigcharts.marketwatch.com

other news websites

Principal market indices, interest rates

Book of the States (from the Council of State Governments)

(print latest Main Ref JK2403 .B724)

Overview of state government programs grouped by broad policy categories

SEARCHING FOR STATISTICAL DATA:

Some strategies:

• Search for specific agencies and organizations. Then browse site for useful databases, publications, reports, and further leads.

• Search for specific reports cited elsewhere

• Search topic keywords to retrieve information which might identify agencies or organizations connected with your topic. Explore associated websites for useful data, publications or further leads.

Some search engines:

Fedstats (demo)

http://www.fedstats.gov/

• Search for links to federal sources of statistical data and information
• Browse list of principal federal statistical agencies

Firstgov.gov (demo)

http://www.firstgov.gov

• Search federal, state, and tribal government agency websites for web pages, reports, etc.
• Browse Firstgov's structured topic pages

Google Unclesam

http://www.google.com/unclesam

Limit Google to just federal websites (.gov & .mil)

Google (or Yahoo, etc.)

http://www.google.com

Search web for organizations, government agencies, specific reports, etc. 

LexisNexis Statistical (subscription database)

(GALILEO)

Search for statistical reports and publications on various topics by federal and state governments as well as research organizations. Some full text links.

GIL, UGA Libraries catalog

gil.uga.edu

Search for government documents, reports, books in UGA Libraries’ collection.