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Navigating the U.S. Federal Statistical System
But there are issues/challenges for the data user to navigate the Federal Statistical System. Examples ... the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases total employment data by county quarterly and monthly through multiple programs. The data values differ, for methodological reasons, but the net result can be confusion for data users. The Census Bureau releases total employment data from many statistical programs by county both annually and more frequently. Where are these alternative total employment data and how can they be accessed? How do these various measures differ and which data are right for my situation? This section provides basic statistical program information. Subsequent updates will provide more detail. Navigating the Federal Statistical System & Data Access -- see below. This Guide is updated periodically. Updated information is posted on the Data Analytics Blog. Follow the blog to receive updates and/or join the ProximityOne User Group. Join now to receive e-mail updates and related member benefits. This section provides an overview of the U.S. Federal Statistical System (FSS) and information that can help stakeholders navigate access to selected types of data produced by the FSS. While the FSS is focused on agencies that collect, develop and make available statistical data, there is a broader set of data and resources that relate to accessing and using these data. As technology and related data analytics resources have evolved, access to and use of these data is closely associated with the development of geographic data by Federal statistical and other agencies and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Related Topics • Washington Post: How the U.S. National Statistics System Works -- 8/7/17 • COPAFS September 2017 Meeting Summary .. About COPAFS The FSS is a decentralized set of agencies that collect, develop and make available statistical and geographic data. The OMB Office of Statistical Programs and Standards (SPS) provides a limited FSS coordinative role. The SPS establishes statistical policies and standards, identifies priorities for improving programs, evaluates statistical agency budgets, reviews and approves Federal agency information collections involving statistical methods, and coordinates U.S. participation in international statistical activities. While the FSS spans more than 100 agencies, the 13 "principal statistical agencies" have statistical work as their principal mission. The principal statistical agencies include: • Census Bureau (Commerce) • Bureau of Economic Analysis (Commerce) • Bureau of Justice Statistics (Justice) • Bureau of Labor Statistics (Labor) • Bureau of Transportation Statistics (Transportation) • Economic Research Service (Agriculture) • Energy Information Administration (Energy) • National Agricultural Statistics Service (Agriculture) • National Center for Education Statistics (Education) • National Center for Health Statistics (CDC/HHS) • National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics -- NSF/Independent • Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics -- SSA/Independent • Statistics of Income (IRS) There are hundreds of additional ongoing Federal programs (outside of the above agencies) that conduct statistical activities in conjunction with another program mission. These statistical programs are components within a Federal department or other agency. They include a broad set of centers, institutes and organizations in addition to the 13 principal statistical agencies. Many of these programs produce data accessible for public use, some routinely updated, many in a near ready-to-use data file structure suitable for integrating with other data. There are also Federal agencies whose statistical activities are not part of the Executive Branch. These agencies include the Congressional Budget Office, which develops and applies projection models for the budgetary impact of current and proposed Federal programs; the Federal Reserve Board, which compiles the widely used Flow of Funds report and other statistical series and periodically conducts the Survey of Consumer Finances; and the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which uses statistical data in evaluations of government programs. Navigating Access to Federal Statistical Data Footnotes (in the form 1,2/ or 2/) refer to additional detail provided shown below the table.
1/ augmented source data are component of PDS 2/ augmented source data are component of S&O 5/ FHFA: independent agency; regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks. 6/ FDIC: independent agency ProximityOne User Group Join the ProximityOne User Group to keep up-to-date with new developments relating to metros and component geography decision-making information resources. Receive updates and access to tools and resources available only to members. Use this form to join the User Group. Support Using these Resources Learn more about accessing and using demographic-economic data and related analytical tools. Join us in a Data Analytics Lab session. There is no fee for these one-hour Web sessions. Each informal session is focused on a specific topic. The open structure also provides for Q&A and discussion of application issues of interest to participants. Additional Information ProximityOne develops geodemographic-economic data and analytical tools and helps organizations knit together and use diverse data in a decision-making and analytical framework. We develop custom demographic/economic estimates and projections, develop geographic and geocoded address files, and assist with impact and geospatial analyses. Wide-ranging organizations use our tools (software, data, methodologies) to analyze their own data integrated with other data. Follow ProximityOne on Twitter at www.twitter.com/proximityone. Contact us (888-364-7656) with questions about data covered in this section or to discuss custom estimates, projections or analyses for your areas of interest. |
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