Statistical Sources 51detailed demographic data. The U.S. Population Clock ticks here as
well.
Historical Census Browser. http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/
histcensus/. On this site the Geospatial and Statistical Data Center
of the University of Virginia provides access to information taken
from historical volumes of the U.S. Census of Population and Hous-
ing from 1790 to 1960.
Business statistics
Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov. This unit of the U.S. Depart-
ment of Labor gathers data on inflation, prices, employment and
unemployment, pay and benefits, productivity, and more. In addi-
tion, its website provides news releases and the latest index figures,
including the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the unemployment rate,
and the Producer Price Index (PPI).
County Business Patterns. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/cbptotal
.html. Here you will find reports on an assortment of areas in our
economy, including manufactur-
ing, transportation, public utilities,
mining, forestry, retail trade, and
more. This data is available back to
1993, and there are discrete annual
accounts of economic activities in
each state, the District of Columbia,
and Puerto Rico.
Business Statistics of the United States:
Patterns of Economic Change (15th
edition). This annual publication
provides a wide range of data drawn from federal government
sources. It includes key economic indicators, such as gross domes-
tic product, personal income, and employment and unemployment
figures.
Handbook of U.S. Labor Statistics: Employment, Earnings, Prices, Pro-
ductivity and Other Labor Data (13th edition). Another annual vol-
ume that provides information formerly offered by Labor Statistics,
a discontinued publication of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here
reference tip
When using a general reference
source, for example, the World
Almanac and Book of Facts, for
statistical information, note the
source of the table or graph
provided, and use that as a lead
for possible further information.