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2030 census will include "Middle Eastern or North African" box for the first time

Mar 29, 2024
One outcome of the “Middle Eastern or North African” (MENA) box will be a clearer picture of economic conditions in Arab American communities.
A poster advertising the 2020 Census in Arabic is seen in Los Angeles. The 2030 Census will be the first time that Arab Americans have their own box to check.
Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images

How much do you trust government data? It depends on your politics

Oct 15, 2020
According to the latest Marketplace-Edison Research Poll, Biden supporters are less likely than Trump supporters to believe economic data from the federal government.
Thuli Katerere-Virima is one of 7% of Biden supporters who still have full confidence in government economic data.
Kimberly Adams/Marketplace

Can the government's economic books be cooked?

Jul 3, 2019
U.S. civil servants who collect and analyze statistics are effectively shielded from political pressure.
Central Press/Getty Images

U.S. to publish economic data on Puerto Rico for the first time

Mar 5, 2019
On foot of concerns that numbers from Puerto Rico itself could be flawed, the U.S. government is preparing to release gross domestic product data on the U.S. territory for the first time. We took a look at what the adjusted financial data could mean for the island as it continues to recover from Hurricane Maria […]
The U.S. government is going to release gross domestic product data on Puerto Rico for the first time because there's concern that numbers from the U.S.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Steve Ballmer says numbers and facts still matter

Apr 21, 2017
The former Microsoft CEO created USAFacts so you can see where your tax dollars go.
"Every day the government will spend money or receive money from taxpayers or it won't. And ultimately, I think people really do care as budgets get prepared, as people like to keep their jobs," Steve Ballmer said.
Adam Berry/Getty Images

Bringing accountability to police through data

Aug 26, 2014
How the use of data collection and analysis tools could improve policing.

Good enough for government data

Oct 17, 2013
We lost two weeks of government data -- data that let economists know what to study and data that helps farmers know what to plant.

For public good, not for profit.