The missing links
Government agencies and other affiliated members that provide demographic, economic, and industry statistics are some of our most useful resources. We use these sites all the time for data gathering when trying to frame market related questions with data points. Some of these, if not all may be familiar to you or already part of your arsenal.
American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI)
http://www.theacsi.org/the-american-customer-satisfaction-index#homelogo
The only national cross-industry measure of customer satisfaction in the United States. The Index measures the satisfaction of U.S. household consumers with the quality of products and services offered by both foreign and domestic firms with significant share in U.S. markets. The ACSI benefits business, researchers, policymakers, and consumers alike by serving as a national indicator of the health of the U.S. economy, as well as a tool for gauging the competitiveness of individual firms and predicting future profitability. Each year, roughly 70,000 customers are surveyed about the products and services they use the most. The survey data serve as inputs to an econometric model that benchmarks customer satisfaction with more than 300 companies in 43 industries and 10 economic sectors, as well as various services of federal and local government agencies.
Bureau of Economic Analysis (U.S.)
National Accounts: BEA’s national economic program provides a quantitative view of US domestic production, consumption, and investment, of exports and imports, and of national and domestic income and saving. It features the estimates of GDP, which is one of the most closely watched of all economic statistics.
Regional Accounts: BEA’s Regional Economic Accounts program produces detailed data on economic activity by region, state, metropolitan area, and county. Estimates of GDP by state—the most comprehensive and BEA’s preferred measure of economic activity—are released six months after the reference year. Estimates of personal income by state are released each quarter, as well as annually. Estimates of personal income by county and metropolitan area are prepared annually.
Industry Accounts: BEA’s Industry Economic Program produces the input-output tables, which show how industries interact to provide input to, and take output from, each other. Comprehensive, benchmark input-output tables are prepared every 5 years, and they are updated in less detail by annual input-output tables.
International Accounts: This BEA program produces the quarterly balance of payments accounts and the monthly services estimates, which provide a detailed view of economic transactions between the United States and other countries.
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Their mission is to collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government. These data are critical to federal, state, and local policymakers in combating crime and ensuring that justice is both efficient and evenhanded.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S.)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support public and private decision-making. As an independent statistical agency, BLS serves its diverse user communities by providing products and services that are objective, timely, accurate, and relevant.
Censtats Databases (a division of the U.S. Census Bureau)
Demographic and economic data for states and counties. Building permit statistics on new privately-owned residential construction for individual municipalities. Non-employer statistics data about businesses without paid employees that are subject to federal income tax.
County Business Patterns (a division of the U.S. Census Bureau)
http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cbp.html
CBP is an annual series that provides subnational economic data by industry.
National Center for Educational Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. NCES is located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences. NCES fulfills a Congressional mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report complete statistics on the condition of American education; conduct and publish reports; and review and report on education activities internationally.
National Center for Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/index.htm
The mission of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is to provide statistical information that will guide actions and policies to improve the health of the American people. As the Nation’s principal health statistics agency, NCHS leads the way with accurate, relevant, and timely data.
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
United States Census Bureau
The Census Bureau’s mission is to serve as the leading source of quality data about the nation’s people and economy. They honor privacy, protect confidentiality, share their expertise globally, and conduct their work openly. They are guided on this mission by scientific objectivity, a strong and capable workforce, devotion to research-based innovation, and an abiding commitment to their “customers.”
United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service
The mission of USDA’s Economic Research Service is to anticipate trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment, and rural America and to conduct high-quality, objective economic research to inform and enhance public and private decision making. ERS shapes its research program and products to serve those who routinely make or influence public policy and program decisions.
United States Energy Information Administration (Independent Statistics & Analysis)
EIA has a vast amount of data, reports, forecasts, analytical content and documentation to assist researchers working on energy topics. For users eager to dive deeper into their content, they have assembled tools to customize searches, view specific data sets, study detailed documentation and access time-series data.
50States.com
Here you can click any state you’re interested in learning about to quickly access a variety of state specific facts and other useful information.