• This research guide provides links to some of the best online sources for statistical information.
• The Library also has numerous print statistical handbooks.
• The Statistical Abstract of the United States is a good place to begin a search for U.S. statistical information (online at <http://www.census.gov/statab/www/> and in print in Government Publications and in Reference.
• Also check the CSM Library Government Publications Federal Government Statistics page

Access is restricted to CSM computers; connect from the Databases page

Statistical Universe is an extensive database covering almost all statistical publications produced by the United States government (American Statistical Index - ASI), a large number of state and privately published statistical publications (Statistical Reference Index - SRI), and international and intergovernmental statistical publications (Index to International Statistics - IIS). Use the Power Tables feature to search 30,000 full-text statistical tables for current information, whether U.S., state, private or international information. Use the Abstracts section to search for statistical information published as far back as 1970, some of which will be available in electronic full-text. Use the Links section to find other online sites that include statistical information.

• Census Bureau of the United States
  <http://www.census.gov/>

  The U.S. Census Bureau collects, analyzes, and makes available the largest number of statistics in the U.S. An extensive amount of these data are available full-text, covering a large variety of subjects. Numerous Census Bureau online resources are cited throughout this guide. Many more are available on the Census web site.

• Fedstats
  <http://www.fedstats.gov/search.html>

  Fedstats provides a search engine that will querie 14 federal agencies for statistics and data, or one can browse an A to Z topcial index. A good site for U.S. statistics.

• Statistical Information <http://www.library.unt.edu/govinfo/subject/statfile.html>

  Created by the Government Information Connection at the University of North Texas Libraries, this guide provides links to online resources and titles of printed publications, for U.S., state and local, and international and foreign statistics.

• Statistical Resources on the Web <http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html>

  The University of Michigan Documents Center, well known for their extensive guides to online resources, offers an large number of links to online statistical sources.

• The American FactFinder <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

  The American FactFinder is the Census Bureau's main product for providing statistics from the census (most of the figures of which are now from the year 2000), and from surveys (which means that some data will be in-between the census years or on topics which the decennial census does not cover). In the search box, use the down-arrows to select which type of statistics you're looking for (age and sex, race and Hispanic origin, etc.), then choose whether you want the statistics for the United States or a smaller geographic area, such as a state, county, or place. As you highlight your choices, other choices will appear as appropriate.

• Census 2000
  <http://www.census.gov/dmd/www/2khome.htm>

  This Bureau of the Census Web page provides a multitude of information about Census 2000, with descriptions, response rates, copies of the questionnaires, FAQs, etc. The first statistics from the Census were released on December 28, 2000. Other data followed and releases are still occurring. For more information on the release dates of Census information, see the Census 2000 Release Schedule.

• Census 2000 Data on Race, Questions and Answers <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/raceqandas.html>

  "Data on race from Census 2000 are not directly comparable with those from the 1990 census and previous censuses due, in large part, to giving respondents the option to report more than one race. Other factors, such as reversing the order of the questions on race and Hispanic origin and changing question wording and format, also may affect comparability." This is the first of many entries in this FAQ.

• County and City Data Book [University of Virginia Geostat program] <http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/ccdb/>

  This online version of the County and City Data Book from the University of Virginia Geostat program leads you through a series of choices to finally display the variables requested for the places requested. Limited as only the 1988 and 1994 editions of the data books are included.

• Health United States <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hus/hus.htm>

  From the National Center for Health Statistics, this source provides information on such topics as: birth and death rates, infant mortality, life expectancy, morbidity and health status, health personnel and facilities, health insurance and managed care, and more. Most of the data are at a national level, with a few tables offering some information at a state level. A special topic provides additional information each year, the Adolescent Health Chartbook being the topic for 2000. Previous years' topics have included: 1999, Health and Aging; 1998, Socioeconomic Status and Health; 1996-97, Injury Chartbook; and 1995, Women's Health.

• National Center for Health Statistics
  <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/>

  The National Center for Health Statistics collects and publishes information on natality (births), mortality (deaths), aging, and various other health-related topics.

• Population and Household Economic Topics <http://www.census.gov/population/www/index.html>

  This section of the Bureau of the Census Web site provides an enormous amount of demographic information, some of it at the state and county level as well as national figures, for such items as: age, race, poverty, income, school enrollment, and more. Scroll down the page further and you'll find a link to the State and County Quickfacts, which provides quick, up-to-date profiles (population, business, and geography) for states and counties.

• State and County Quickfacts <http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html>

  As the title suggests, and is stated on the page, this site "provides frequently requested Census Bureau information at the national, state and county level. This site is very easy to use - just click on a state and then on a county, and a table of statistical figures is provided very quickly.

• United States Historical Census Data Browser <http://fisher.lib.Virginia.EDU/census/>

  This site allows you to select a census year, then particular variables, and finally display the results, which automatically provides a state listing, with an option to display counties for states.

• Vital Statistics of the United States <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/vsus/vsus.htm>

  The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has only recently begun to place the Vital Statistics publications on the Web, the first volume of which is Vital Statistics of the United States, 1997, Volume I, Natality. NCHS plans to eventually place all the vital statistics information on the Web and discontinue the print editions; however, for the meantime, the print editions must be consulted for much of the detailed information, such as mortality information by smaller geographic areas, and for previous editions.

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
  <http://www.bls.gov/>

  This site provides: "Economy at a Glance" (for the U.S., industries, and regions, states, and metropolitan areas), the Occupational Outlook Handbook, an inflation calculator, Wages by Area and Occupation, and, of course, plenty of employment, productivity, and labor information.

• Business & Economics Numeric Data <http://www.mnsfld.edu/depts/lib/ecostats.html>

  From the North Hall Library of Mansfield University, this library research guide provides links to online business and economics data, with descriptions for each site.

• Census 2000: Industry and Occupation Classification System <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/ioindex.html>

  "A tool for classifying responses to certain census questions relating to an employer's kind of business and an employee's kind of work as reported in Census 2000, the Current Population Survey, the American Community Survey, and other surveys. Indexes list approximately 21,000 industry and 30,000 occupational titles. The industrial classification system was developed using the structure of the North American Industry Classification System used for the first time in the 1997 Economic Census" (from a Bureau of the Census Product Update, 3/16/01).

• Consumer Price Indexes
  <http://www.bls.gov/cpi/>

  "The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. The CPI provides a way for consumers to compare what the market basket of goods and services" (from the CPI FAQ page). This page provides many versions of the CPI, with links to historical CPI statistics, plus publications, documentation, and fact sheets, all pertaining to the CPI.

• Economy at a Glance: United States <http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm>
  Economy at a Glance: Industries
  <http://www.bls.gov/iag/iaghome.htm>
  Economy at a Glance: Regions, States, and Metropolitan areas <http://www.bls.gov/eag/>

  From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these "Economy at a Glance" pages offer such statistics as: unemployment rate, average hourly earnings, consumer price index, producer price index, U.S. import price index, employment cost index, productivity, and more, depending upon the section.

• 1990 Census Lookup
  <http://venus.census.gov/cdrom/lookup>

  This site requires some knowledge of the Census method of placing raw data into "Summary Tape Files" or STFs. Nevertheless, it's one of the few places on the Internet for searching and obtaining statistical data at the tract, block, block group, and zip code geographic levels for 1990 Census data.

• The American FactFinder <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

  The Bureau of the Census American FactFinder provides maps as well as statistical data. Note that in the main "start" search box that you can select "tables" or "maps" before beginning to choose other variables. Several types of maps can be created through this resource: Reference Maps, Thematic Maps and Custom Tables containing Census 2000 Census Tract data. New information is continually added to this site as census data are released.

• Census Tract Maps: U.S. Census Bureau Guide to Census Tract Resources
  <http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tractez.html>

  This Census Web site provides information on how to locate and create both Census 2000 and 1990 census tract maps.

• County and City Data Book [University of Virginia Geostat program] <http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/ccdb/>

  This online version of the County and City Data Book from the University of Virginia Geostat program leads you through a series of choices to finally display the variables requested for the places requested. Limited as only the 1988 and 1994 editions of the data books are included.

• State and Metropolitan Area Data Book <http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS2647>

  Metropolitan Areas are a U.S. Bureau of the Census designation for larger cities and their contiguous counties. This data book provides figures for those metropolitan areas, the counties involved, the central cities of the metro areas, and all of the states. In addition to data such as population, income, etc., there are some figures for hospitals, death rates, crime, education, etc.

• USA Counties
  <http://censtats.census.gov/usa/usa.shtml>

  This Bureau of the Census product, made available through Oregon State University's Government Information Sharing Project, allows you to select counties and generate comparative data for demographic, economic, and governmental statistics.

• Asian Development Bank—Economic and Social Statistics <http://www.adb.org/Economics/default.asp>

  Provides access to key indicators such as data on environment, economic, financial, environmental and social development of developing Asian and pacific countries.

• Background Notes on the Countries of the World <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/>

  From the U.S. Department of the State, these publications provide a brief overview of a country or region, including information on the geography, brief demographic statistics, type of government and political parties, principal government figures, some economic figures, foreign relations, travel notes, and a brief history. The Background Notes are not updated on a regular schedule, so while some will be up-to-date, others may be too old to be useful except for historical research.

• Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) International Accounts Data <http://www.bea.doc.gov/bea/di1.htm>

  Data for balance of payments (including tables on international transactions, private service transactions, and exports and imports by geographic area), U.S. direct investment abroad, and foreign direct investment in the United States, plus articles from the Survey of Current Business and more.

• Country Commercial Guides <http://www1.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf>

  Prepared by US Embassy Staff once a year and contain information on the business and economic situation of foreign countries and the political climate as it affects U.S. business. Each CCG contains the same chapters, and an appendix, which include topics such as marketing, trade regulations, investment climate, and business travel.

  Industry Concordances
  <http://www.macalester.edu/research/economics/PAGE/HAVEMAN/
  Trade.Resources/TradeConcordances.html>

  Provides access to numerous concordances (ISIC, SITC, usSIC, cSIC, HS, NAICS and others) plus a list of acronyms and what they stand for, and verbal descriptions of the various classification systems.

• InfoNation <http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/infonation/e_infonation.htm>

  This United Nations service is described as "an easy-to-use, two-step database that allows you to view and compare the most up-to-date statistical data for the Member States of the United Nations." From an initial menu, one can select up to seven countries, then from a data menu select the statistics and fields desired.

• International Programs Center (IPC)
  <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/>

  Another service of the U.S. Bureau of the Census, this section provides an International Data Base (IDB), an HIV/AIDS Surveillance Data Base, Census Dates for Countries and Areas of the World: 1945 to 2004, and various publications, reports and research services.

• Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Statistics
  <http://www.oecd.org/statsportal/0,2639,en_2825_293564_1_1_1_1_1,00.html>

  This site provides statistical information on a number of topics. Main subject headings include: OECD statistics, economic statistics, agriculture, energy, development and co-operation, public management, education labor and social affairs, science, technology and industry, and health.

• Trade Data OnLine (Statistics Canada)
  <http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrkti/tdst/engdoc/tr_homep.html>

  Provides ten years of Canadian and U.S. trade statistics, including information on the value of imports and domestic exports from/to over 200 countries for over 5,000 commodities, and over 500 industries.

• USITC Trade DataWeb
  <http://dataweb.usitc.gov/>

  Provides searchable databases for U.S. imports, exports, and tariff databases.

• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) Statistical Division
  <http://www.unece.org/stats/>

  The UN/ECE contains statistical data regarding European member countries, an archive of documents, census recommendations, and links to other statistical agencies. The online data consists of three databases: Trends in Europe and North America, UN/ECE Timber Database, and UN/ECE Gas Centre Database. Most of the information in these databases is presented in either chart or graph format.

• World Bank Data
  <http://www.worldbank.org/data/>

  The World Bank produces some of the best, most user-friendly economic data. This page provides access to statistical data by country and by topic.

• World Factbook <http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html>

  This Central Intelligence Agency source provides up- to-date statistics on most of the countries in the world, including figures for population, births, and deaths; and information on communications, transportation, and military expenditures.

• World Trade Organization (WTO) Statistics <http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/statis_e.htm>

  "The WTO Statistics Division compiles statistics required by the Secretariat for the regular analysis of world trade in merchandise and commercial services, and for special studies on particular aspects of international trade."

• Nationmaster <http://www.nationmaster.com/> Generate maps and graphs on all kinds of statistics