Sources of statistical information are held throughout the Michigan State University Libraries. This guide is not
comprehensive. Rather, it provides information on a selection of the most important general sources.
Although most of the materials listed below are located in the Government Documents Reference area (Main
Library Reference, 1st floor East), some materials are located in other Library locations. Selected WWW resources are also included. Please ask at the Main Library Reference Desk (Main
Library, 1st floor East) if you need further assistance.
Indexes and abstracts the wide range of statistical publications produced by the U.S. government. Publicatins indexed are primarily either in the U.S. documents depository collection or in the ASI microfiche located behind the Main Library Reference desk. Note: more recent editions of publications indexed are often available on the the Internet.
Provides access to the statistics and information produced by more than 70 US federal
agencies. Special features include:
"Topics A-Z" offers links to statistics by topic.
"Agencies" heading that links to the Web sites of major Federal statistical agencies
"MapStats" and "Statistics by geography" offer data broken down into geographic areas.
Note: Site is not comprehensive but offers a good starting point.
GUIDES
Major U.S. Statistical Series: Definitions, Publications, Limitations (Statistics Alcove 1 East HA37.U55 S77 1992).
Information is provided on selected statistical measures published by the US government. Subject
areas include: population, labor force, economic indicators, price indexes and inflation measures,
measures of production, foreign trade, and federal government finance.
Economics Sourcebook of Government Statistics (Consulting Reference HC106.8 .H63 1983)
A slightly out of date, but nonetheless useful, explanation of a variety of government statistics. It
complements the above volume fairly well.
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS AND CODES
Many statistics (particularly for economics and trade) are collected and published using standardized classification systems and codes. The following are the most commonly used.
Note: you may need to use an earlier edition of these manuals for historical statistics.
Used for pre-1997 economic statistics including the economic census. Earlier editions are available in GovDocs 3 West in paper and fiche. PrEx 2.6/2:In 27/year
Replaced the SIC system for the 1997 Economic Census. Revised substantially again in 2002. NAICS 2002 will be used for the 2002 Economic Census. Includes conversion tables from 1987 SIC codes.
Compendium of statistics on all aspects of population, economy and society in the United States from 1878-present. Excellent source for current and historical statistics.
Note: Use citations below tables to locate more recent or detailed statistics.
Statistical Portrait of the United States: Social Conditions and Trends (Statistics Alcove, 1st floor East, HA214 .S73 2002)
Contains 12 thematic chapters with tables and charts and an appendix with detailed tables. Although the data are drawn from US government sources, the repackaging is pretty useful in places.
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial times to 1970 ( Closed Reference and Statistics Alcove, 1st floor East HA202 .A385 1989; CD-ROM on Reference Workstation #22)
Very good resource for earlier statistics. Use citations to locate more detailed statistical series.
Datapedia of the United States 1790-2000: America Year by Year (Statistics Alcove, 1st floor East, HA202 .K87 1994)
Excerpts tables from Historical Statistics of the United States from Colonial Times. Data are updated using the Statistical Abstract. Table numbers match those in Historical Statistics.
State and county data from the decennial U.S. census. A complete set of Decennial U.S. Census reports is available in the Census Alcove. Reports provide more geographic detail and more variables.
Annual overview of crop production, farm demographics and economics, livestock and environmental data.
Agricultural Statistics (latest paper on Closed Reference; earlier in GovDocs stacks A 1/47; also on CD-ROM A 1.47/2:)
Annual overview of agricultural production, supplies, consumption, facilities, costs, and returns.
Amber Waves (GovDocs A 93.10/2:no.) formerly Agricultural Outlook
The main source of USDA's farm and food price forecasts. Emphasizes the short-term outlook for all
major areas of the agricultural economy. Also presents long-term analyses of such issues as U.S.
agricultural policy, trade forecasts and export-market development, food safety, the environment, and farm
financial institutions. Each issue has a statistical indicators section.
2002 Census of Agriculture:
5-yearly census is the most comprehensive survey of agriculture in the U.S. Earlier editions are available in the 1East Census Alcove.
Agricultural Statistics (Latest edition in Statistics Alcove; earlier in GovDocs stacks A 1.47:; also on CD-ROM A 1.47/2:)
Searchable database of nearly 300 reports and datasets from the economics agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Service provided by Cornell University's Mann Library, USDA-ERS, USDA-NASS, USDA-WAOB.
Includes statistics on flows of aid and other financial resources to aid recipients, broken down by major category of expenditure and aid activity from the OECD.
Elementary/Secondary Surveys
Postsecondary Surveys
Longitudinal Surveys
Education Assessment
Libraries
International Comparisons
School District Data Book
and more...
Public School District Finance Peer Search
Interactive Database Search (IPEDS)
International Archive of Educational Data
School District Demogaphics
and more...
Monthly report on principal energy resources, with data on production, consumption, trade, stocks, and prices; electric power production, sales and prices; and oil and gas exploration activity. Also available in GovDocs fiche E 3.9:
"data and analysis on land use, soil erosion, water quality,
wetlands, and other issues regarding the conservation and use of natural resources" from the National Resources Conservation Service.
Related titles include: Analytical Perspectives, A Citizen's Guide to the Federal Budget, Historical Tables.
CPI Detailed Report (GovDocs stacks L 2.8/3:)
Monthly report on changes in the CPI for all urban consumers (CPI-U) and for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W); by expenditure category and for individual commodities and services.
Monthly report presenting monthly quarterly and annual data for detailed national economic indicators and
components. Prepared by the Council of Economic Advisors primarily from Federal sources, and including some data from industry associations and private information systems.
Monthly comprehensive report on economic conditions and business activity. Includes coverage of official national income and product accounts, and international transactions.
Statistical Record of Health and Medicine (Statistics Alcove RA 407.3 .S75 ed.2)
Gale Research-produced compilation of government information from various agencies. Citations to the official sources are provided.
Health, United States
(latest in Statistics Alcove; earlier in GovDocs stacks HE 20.7042/6:)
Annual compilation of data on health status and determinants, health care resources and use, and health care costs and
financing, reproductive health, substance abuse. Contains national trends in public health statistics and information on health
behaviors, such as smoking.
Presents current data on the epidemiology of notifiable infectious diseases reported by State health departments to the Centers
for Disease Control. Data are current to one week before publication.
Social Security Bulletin (latest paper on GovDocs Current Periodicals; earlier in GovDocs stacks (1995 on at SSA 1.22; earlier at HE 3.3)
Quarterly journal presenting information and statistics on current social security program developments, and historical data from 1940 or year of program initiation.
Vital Statistics of the United States Annual reports that present detailed vital statistics data, including natality, mortality, marriage and divorce, for the United States. (1890-1993) Also in print at HA203 .A22 (Statistics Alcove and Main)
Monthly comprehensive report on economic conditions and business activity. Includes coverage of official national income and product accounts, and international transactions.
Handbook of U.S. Labor Statistics: Employment, Earnings, Prices, Productivity, and Other Labor Data (Statistics Alcove HD8051 .H36)
BLS stopped publishing the official version of the Handbook of Labor Statistics in 1989. This unofficial Bernan Press edition brings together the most important BLS data along with
descriptive and methodological information.
Employment and Wages, Annual Averages (GovDocs stacks and microfiche L 2.104/2:)
Employment and Earnings (GovDocs stacks L 2.41/2:)
Provides current data on employment, unemployment, work hours, and earnings for the U.S.,
individual states, and select metropolitan areas. The January issue provides data by detailed occupations (employment and earnings); the March issue contains employment by major sector for each state; the May issue contains employment by major sector for selected metropolitan areas.
Quarterly report presenting current information and statistics on employee compensation, including wages, salaries, and benefits; occupational injuries and illnesses, and workplace health and safety; and labor costs.
Monthly and cumulative data on births, deaths, marriages, and divorces, and infant deaths for States and the United States are presented with brief analyses of the vital statistics.
Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (Formerly Statistical yearbook of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; earlier years in GovDocs stacks J 21.2/10:)
Annual yearbook with statistics on immigrants, naturalizations, refugees and asylum seekers, immigration law enforcement and non-migrant admissions to the U.S.
U.S. Industry & Trade Outlook (latest edition on Closed Ref; earlier in GovDocs stacks C 61.48:)
Industry-by-industry overview of the U.S. economy with forecasts.
DataWeb
(U.S. International Trade Commission) (registration required, but free).
Monthly import and export statistics by U.S. port by value (various) and quantity. Offers the most comprehensive and detailed U.S. statistics available.
Global Data Links (sources of trade and other macroeconomic data, selected by the staff of the Office of Trade and Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce)
U.S. Foreign Trade Highlights (over 100 tables of goods & services trade by country and region.)
U.S. Industry Sector Data (statistics for more than 100 major manufacturing groups and products, including employment, wages, capital expenditures and trade.)
U.S. Foreign Trade Update (up-to-date monthly analysis of U.S. trade balances with tables on goods trade.)
State Export Data (exports by state to the world and selected markets for 1993-1998.)
Metropolitan Area Exports (export performance report on over 250 U.S. cities for 1993-1997.)
U.S. Trade In Perspective (four-page synopsis of current developments in U.S. international trade, released monthly with Census Bureau's most current trade figures.)
Annual overview provides statistics on extent and use of transportation infrastructure, accidents, crashes and fatalities, environmental and economic impact of transportation.
Commodity Flow Survey (data on shipments by domestic establishments in manufacturing, wholesale, mining, and selected other industries)
International Transportation (Transborder Surface Freight Data, Border Crossing Data, International Air Passenger and Freight Statistics, International Travel and Tourism Statistics)
TranStats data, graphs and charts on nationwide transportation and related statistics. Very comprehensive.
Michigan State University Libraries
100 Library, East Lansing, MI 48824
PHONE: 517-353-8700
URL: http://www.lib.msu.edu/publ_ser/docs/usfed/stats.htm
Page editor: Hui Hua Chua |
Updated: December 8, 2005
MSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution
U.S. Government Statistics Sources