May 2021 Stakeholder Report

COPAFS News

On May 19, 2021, COPAFS submitted testimony with specific funding requests for NCHS, NCES, and BLS to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. COPAFS urged the Subcommittee to adopt the following funding recommendations in FY22: $200 million, NCHS; $300 million, NCES; and $800 million, BLS.

Upcoming Events

Next COPAFS Quarterly Meeting: Friday June 4, 2021
COPAFS will hold its next Quarterly Meeting on Friday June 4, 2021. This meeting will feature the heads of federal statistical agencies providing an update on recent data initiatives and other relevant news from their respective agencies. The agenda and meeting registration are accessible here.

2021 Joint Statistical Meetings: August 8-12, 2021
The 2021 Join Statistical Meetings will be held virtually and registration has recently opened. Early bird registration ends on June 15, so register soon! More information is available at: 2021 JSM

2021 FCSM Research and Policy Conference: November 2-4, 2021
The 2021 FCSM Research and Policy Conference has been scheduled for November 2-4, 2021. It will be held at the Washington Convention Center (pandemic conditions permitting and cooperating) and registration will open in the coming months. The Planning Committee is currently accepting abstract submissions through April 19, 2021. To submit an abstract or to find out more about this year’s conference, please visit: FCSM2021

Agency Releases

Bureau of Economic Analysis (DOC)

On May 28, Personal Income and Outlays, April 2021 was released. Personal income decreased $3.21 trillion (13.1 percent) in April. Disposable personal income (DPI) decreased $3.22 trillion (14.6 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $80.3 billion (0.5 percent). Real DPI decreased 15.1 percent in April and Real PCE decreased 0.1 percent; goods decreased 1.3 percent and services increased 0.6 percent. The PCE price index increased 0.6 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index increased 0.7 percent.
On May 27, GDP, 1st Quarter 2021 (2nd Estimate); Corporate Profits 1st Quarter 2021 (Preliminary Estimate) was released. Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2021, according to the “second” estimate. In the fourth quarter of 2020, real GDP increased 4.3 percent.

Bureau of Justice Statistics (DOJ)

On May 24, the Survey of State Attorneys General, US, 2014 was released. The 2014 Survey of State Attorneys General (SAG) collected information on jurisdiction, sources and circumstances of case referrals, and the participation of attorneys general offices in federal or state white-collar crime task forces in 2014. White-collar crime was defined by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) as: “any violation of law committed through non-violent means, involving lies, omissions, deceit, misrepresentation, or violation of a position of trust, by an individual or organization for personal or organizational benefit.” SAG sought to analyze how attorneys general offices as an organization in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories respond to white-collar offenses in their jurisdiction.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (DOL)

On May 21, State Employment and Unemployment Summary – April 2021 was released. Unemployment rates were lower in April in 12 states and the District of Columbia and stable in 38 states. Forty-eight states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and two states had little change. The national unemployment rate, 6.1 percent, was little changed over the month, but was 8.7 percentage points lower than in April 2020.
On May 19, County Employment and Wages – Fourth Quarter 2020 was released. Among the 357 largest counties, 356 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. In the fourth quarter of 2020, average weekly wages for the nation increased to $1,339, a 13.0-percent increase over the year. San Francisco, CA, had the largest fourth quarter over-the-year wage gain at 44.3 percent. Nationally, across most industries, increases in average weekly wages reflect substantial employment declines combined with wage increases. The lowest paying industry, leisure and hospitality, had the largest employment loss, which results in higher average weekly wages for the industry and the nation.
On May 18, Foreign Born Workers: Labor Force Characteristics – 2020 was released. The unemployment rate for foreign-born persons in the United States was 9.2 percent in 2020, up sharply from 3.1 percent in 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The jobless rate of native-born persons also increased sharply; it was 7.8 percent in 2020, up from 3.8 percent in 2019. The marked increases in these measures reflect the effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (DOT)

On May 21, Air Travel Consumer Report: March 2021 was released. March 2021 saw a decrease in flight cancellations compared to the prior month and an overall increase in flights operated. The total number of flights operated have not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels but have increased significantly since the all-time monthly low of 180,151 flights in May 2020. In March 2021, the 10 marketing network carriers reported 467,126 scheduled domestic flights, 5,904 (1.3%) of which were canceled, and 461,222 of which were operated. In February 2021, airlines reported 350,170 scheduled domestic flights, 20,201 (5.8%) of which were canceled, and 329,969 of which were operated. In March 2020, airlines reported 701,274 scheduled domestic flights, 118,276 (16.9%) of which were canceled, and 582,998 of which were operated.
On May 12, March 2021 Freight Shipment Index Numbers were released. The March decline of 2.1% coupled with a larger 3.1% decline in February left the index down 5.1% since January and at the lowest level since June 2020. The February and March monthly declines were the two largest since the onset of the pandemic in April 2020. From March 2020 to March 2021 the index fell 4.0% compared to a decline of 2.0% from March 2019 to March 2020 and an increase of 2.0% from March 2018 to March 2019 (Tables 1, 2, and 2A). The level of for-hire freight shipments in March measured by the Freight TSI (130.0) was 8.1% below the all-time high level of 141.5 in August 2019 (Table 2A). BTS’ TSI records begin in 2000.

Census Bureau (DOC)

On May 28, Additional 2020 Census Operational Quality Metrics were released. The metrics are available in a downloadable table and interactive dashboard. Data are provided for the nation, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Comparable metrics from the 2010 Census are also available in the downloadable table and interactive dashboard. The Census Bureau also released the 2020 Census Operational Quality Metrics: Release 2 blog, which provides highlights from today’s metrics. In April, the Census Bureau released an initial set of operational quality metrics, which showed how people responded to the 2020 Census, as well as how the Census Bureau accounted for addresses that did not respond to the census.
On May 18, Annual Survey of School System Finances tables were released. Per pupil spending for elementary and secondary public education (pre-K through 12th grade) for all 50 states and the District of Columbia increased by 5.0% to $13,187 per pupil during the 2019 fiscal year, compared to $12,559 per pupil in 2018. This is the largest increase in more than a decade. Data for this report covers the fiscal year before the COVID-19 pandemic. The spending increase was due in part to an overall increase in revenue. In 2019, public elementary and secondary schools received $751.7 billion from all revenue sources, up 4.5% from $719.0 billion in 2018.
On May 17, data collection for Phase 5 of the Small Business Pulse Survey began. No significant changes were made to Phase 5 of the SBPS. The SBPS includes questions on topics such as location closings, changes in employment, supply chain disruptions, the use of federal assistance initiatives (e.g., Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Shuttered Venue Operators Grant), vaccine requirements, planned capital expenditures, and expectations concerning future operations. The survey takes only minutes to complete. Each week, the survey will be sent to approximately 100,000 small businesses. Over the course of nine weeks, nearly 1 million small businesses will receive an invitation to participate. This survey defines small businesses as having a single location with one to 499 employees.

Energy Information Administration (DOE)

On May 28, State Energy Data System (SEDS): Total Energy through 2019 tables were released.
On May 20, the Prime Supplier Report (March 2021) tables were released.

National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA)

On April 30, NASS announced they will publish the final U.S. marketing year average prices for several crops earlier in the year, to allow the Farm Service Agency to meet statutory deadlines in administering their programs. Crops impacted and the new publication months are: Barley (June), Oats (June), Wheat (June), Canola (July), Dry Edible Peas (July), Flaxseed (July), Lentils (July), Rapeseed (July), Mustard Seed (September), Safflower (September), and Sunflower (September). These estimates are published in the Agricultural Prices report that is released the last business day of each month.

National Center for Education Statistics (DOEd)

On May 25, the Condition of Education was released. The Condition of Education contains key indicators on all levels of education, labor force outcomes, and international comparisons. The indicators summarize important developments and trends using the latest statistics, which are updated throughout the year as new data become available. Spotlight indicators provide more in-depth analyses on selected topics. In addition, the more succinct Report on the Condition of Education, which highlights and synthesizes key findings from the Condition of Education, is also available in PDF format.
On May 18, The National Indian Education Study 2019 was released. This report provides 1) an in-depth look at the findings from the student, teacher, and school administrator survey questions that were focused on AI/AN culture and language; 2) information about the achievement of AI/AN students at grades 4 and 8 on the NAEP reading and mathematics assessments—for the nation as well as for 15 states with relatively large proportions of AI/AN students; 3)an examination of contextual factors that are associated with higher- and lower-performing AI/AN students; and 4) an exploration of composite variables (i.e., variables built upon multiple discrete student survey questions) related to AI/AN cultural knowledge, interest in reading about cultures (both their own and others), engagement at school, and perceptions about effort in school.
On April 30, a new blog discussed Identifying Virtual Schools Using the Common Core of Data (CCD). Prior to the pandemic, there were already increasing numbers of virtual public schools that offered instructional programs to those that may have difficulty accessing or attending traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Even before the pandemic, some schools and districts were using virtual instruction in new ways, such as switching to virtual instruction on snow days rather than cancelling school. Since school year (SY) 2013–14, the Common Core of Data (CCD) has included a school-level virtual status flag, which has changed over time. For SY 2020–21, the Department of Education instructed states to classify schools that are normally brick-and-mortar schools but are operating remotely during the pandemic as supplemental virtual.

National Center for Health Statistics (CDC)

On May 24, Comparative Analysis of the NHANES Public-use and Restricted-use Linked Mortality Files Report was released. Linking national survey data with administrative data sources enables researchers to conduct analyses that would not be possible with each data source alone. Recently, the Data Linkage Program at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released updated Linked Mortality Files, including the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data linked to the National Death Index mortality files. Two versions of the files were released: restricted-use files available through NCHS and Federal Statistical Research Data Centers and public-use files. To reduce the reidentification risk, statistical disclosure limitation methods were applied to the public-use files before they were released. This included limiting the amount of mortality information available and perturbing cause of death and follow-up time for select records.
On May 17, a vital statistics reports on Deaths: Leading Causes for 2018 was released. In 2018, the 10 leading causes of death were, in rank order: Diseases of heart; Malignant neoplasms; Accidents (unintentional injuries); Chronic lower respiratory diseases; Cerebrovascular diseases; Alzheimer disease; Diabetes mellitus; Influenza and pneumonia; Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis; and Intentional self-harm (suicide). They accounted for 73.8% of all deaths occurring in the United States. Differences in the rankings are evident by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Leading causes of infant death for 2018 were, in rank order: Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities; Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified; Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy; Sudden infant death syndrome; Accidents (unintentional injuries); Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes; Bacterial sepsis of newborn; Diseases of the circulatory system; Respiratory distress of newborn; and Neonatal hemorrhage. Variations in the leading causes of infant death are noted for the neonatal and postneonatal periods.
On May 12, a vital statistics report on Total Fertility Rates, by Maternal Educational Attainment and Race and Hispanic Origin, 2019 was released. —In 2019, the U.S. total fertility rate (TFR) for all women aged 15–49 was 1,705 expected births per 1,000 women. TFRs decreased as level of education increased from women with a 12th grade education or less through an associate’s and bachelor’s degree, and then rose from bachelor’s degree through a doctorate or professional degree. Among the race and Hispanic origin groups, TFRs were highest for Hispanic women (1,939), followed by non-Hispanic black (1,774) and non-Hispanic white (1,610) women. Rates generally declined from the lowest educational level through a bachelor’s degree for non-Hispanic white women, and through an associate’s degree for Hispanic women, and then generally rose for both groups for women with advanced degrees. TFRs for non-Hispanic black women declined by educational level through a master’s degree. Across the race and Hispanic-origin groups, the lowest TFR by educational level was for non-Hispanic black women with a master’s degree (1,038), and the highest was for Hispanic women with a 12th grade education or less (3,025). TFRs for non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women with some college credit or less were generally higher than the rates for non-Hispanic white women, but TFRs for non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women with a master’s degree or more were generally lower than the rates for non-Hispanic white women.

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NSF)

On May 12, Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2019-20 data tables were released. The annual Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development (Federal Funds Survey) is the primary source of information about federal funding for R&D in the United States. The results of the survey are used to help implement four federal programs: the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, Small Business Innovation Research, Small Business Technology Transfer, and Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
On May 11, Early Career Doctorates: 2017 data tables were released. The Early Career Doctorates Survey (ECDS) is designed to provide nationally representative statistics on recent doctorate (or equivalent) recipients working at U.S. master’s degree- or doctorate-granting academic institutions (excluding medical schools and centers) and federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs). Established by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation to address the need for greater information on postdoctoral researchers (postdocs) and individuals working in the United States who earned their first doctoral degree abroad, the ECDS provides the most comprehensive data collected to date on the demographics, labor market experiences, and jobs held by doctorates in the first decade after earning their degree. These data include information on job quality and training, professional activities and achievements, work-life balance, mentoring, research opportunities, and career plans.

Statistics of Income Division (IRS)

In May, Personal Wealth, 2016 was released. Six tables presenting data from the information reported on United States Estate (and Generation Skipping Transfer) Tax Returns (Form 706) are now available on SOI’s Tax Statistics Web page. These tables detail the type of property by size of net worth, age of wealth holder, and net worth and selected assets by State of residence of individuals whose personal wealth was at least equal to the estate tax filing threshold of $5.45 million and who were required to file Form 706 in 2016. This triennial study is based on the Estate Multiplier technique and estimates the wealth of the living population.
In May, Individual Income Tax Returns, Preliminary Data, Tax Year 2019 data tables were released. These data represent estimates of income and tax items based on a sample of individual income tax returns filed between January and late September of Processing Year 2020 and then weighted to represent a full year of tax data.

Federal Register Notices

There were 35 federal register notices posted by federal statistical agencies from April 26, 2021 to May 25, 2021. Links to each of these notices are organized by agency below.

Bureau of Economic Analysis (DOC) – 4 New Notices

Bureau of Justice Statistics (DOJ) – 5 New Notices

Bureau of Labor Statistics (DOL) – 3 New Notices

Information Collection Activities; Comment Request (5/20/2021)
Information Collection Activities; Comment Request (5/3/2021)(4/23/2021)
Data Users Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting and Agenda (4/27/2021)

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (DOT) – 6 New Notices

Census Bureau (DOC) – 7 New Notices

Economic Research Service (USDA) – No New Notices

Energy Information Administration (DOE) – 1 New Notice

Agency Information Collection Extension (5/24/2021)

National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA) – 1 New Notice

Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics (5/14/2021)

National Center for Education Statistics (DOEd) – 8 New Notices

National Center for Health Statistics (HHS) – No New Notice

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NSF) – No New Notices

Office of Research, Evaluation & Statistics (SSA) – No New Notices

Statistics of Income Division (IRS) – No New Notices

Of Interest

The Data Foundation is sponsoring the COVID-19 Household Impact Survey funded in part by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and administered by NORC at the University of Chicago. This survey is a philanthropic effort to provide national and regional statistics about health, the economy, and social dynamics in the United States during this pandemic.

The Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) weekly publishes a summary of the latest publicly released probability- based surveys on the COVID-19 pandemic. The report covers 18 national and state surveys released in the past week as well as seven international surveys.

COPAFS is proud to be a partner of Count on Stats, an initiative from one of its member organizations, the American Statistical Association, that provides a strong, independent, and non-partisan voice in support of the federal statistical system. Together, we advocate for the 13 federal statistical agencies and the nation’s data infrastructure. Federal Statistics are critical to public health, business development, community services, education, evidence-based policymaking and more. We Count on Stats to assist the federal agencies and COPAFS to highlight federal statistics through its communication channels.

Go back to the 2021 Stakeholder Reports