The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® fell by 7.2 points in March to 92.9 (1985=100). The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions—decreased 3.6 points to 134.5. The Expectations Index—based on consumers’ short-term outlook…
Tag: Census
Big Improvements to the Annual Integrated Economic Survey
Data collection for the second year of the Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES) is underway and with it comes updates to survey design and content that will enhance the survey experience and improve data quality. These changes are aimed at…
Only 50 U.S Counties Had Populations Over a Million in 2024
Fifty or 1.6% of the United States’ 3,144 counties had at least one million people on July 1, 2024, more than double the number (23) in 1970. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s county-level population estimates, which date back to…
Growth in Metro Areas Outpaced Nation
Population growth in U.S. metro areas as a whole was faster between 2023 and 2024 than in the previous year and outpaced that of the nation. Additionally, some metro areas that experienced population declines during the COVID-19 pandemic are now…
Irish-American Heritage Month and St. Patricks Day
The U.S. Congress designated March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1991 and the president issues a proclamation commemorating the occasion each year. Originally a religious holiday to honor St. Patrick who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century, St.…
Business Trends and Outlook Survey Data Released by Census
On February 27, the U.S. Census Bureau released new data products from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), a survey that measures business conditions and projections on an ongoing basis. The BTOS includes data for multiunit/multilocation businesses. BTOS will…
More People Moved Back Home at Height of Pandemic
People move all the time but at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing share of movers returned to their state of birth, a shift that began before the pandemic and gained even more traction at its peak. From…
Socioeconomic Inequalities Between Remote Workers and Commuters
The share of the workforce working from home has declined in recent years but remains more than double what it was before COVID-19. New data reveal significant inequalities between remote workers and commuters: remote workers tend to be older, are…
Rising Home Equity Boosted Household Wealth During Pandemic
The median net worth of U.S. households increased about $40,000 from 2019 to 2022, primarily due to rising home equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), median household net worth…
Nearly All U.S. Counties Had More Homeowners Than Renters
The number of owner-occupied housing units increased by 8.4%, from 76.4 million in 2014-2018 to 82.9 million in 2019-2023, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau data. The 2019-2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates show that more people owned…