The "Statistical Abstract of the United States, "is the U.S. government's Standard summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Designed to serve as a convenient volume for statistical reference and as a guide to other statistical publications and sources. The latter function is served by the introductory text to each section, the source note appearing below each table, and Appendix I, which comprises the Guide to Sources of Statistics, the Guide to State Statistical Abstracts, and the Guide to Foreign Statistical Abstracts. This volume includes a selection of data from many statistical sources, both government and private. Publications cited as sources usually contain additional statistical detail and more comprehensive discussions of definitions and concepts. Data not available in publications issued by the contributing agency but obtained from the Internet or unpublished records are identified in the source notes. More information on the subjects covered in the tables so noted may generally be obtained from the source.
It's a bit hard to write a description of a book that's full of nothing but numbers. In fact, 840 pages of numbers in fine print. However, if you need those numbers, as I do, this book is essential. For those not familiar with the Stat Abstract, it has come out every year since 1878. As stated in the Preface, it "is the standard summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States." The major sections include Population, Vital Statistics, Finances and Employment of Federal, State and Local governemnts, Science & Technology, Agriculture, and Energy, as well as many others. Many of the data tables come from the Census Bureau and other government agencies. Many others come from private sources (trade associations, etc.) Most of the data tables provide references to sources with more detail, including other Census Bureau publications. How good are the numbers? They are the best available. As someone has remarked, government statistics start with whatever the constable felt like writing down. Despite this, there are no more accurate sources for the types of data contained here. There are other data compilations, such as The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 2007 (World Almanac and Book of Facts). These other compilations often contain data not found in the Stat Abstract. However, none of the other compilations are as comprehensive. If you get only one book, this is the one you should choose.
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