COPAFS News
FCSM Registration is Open
Registration for the 2023 FCSM Research and Policy Conference is open! The conference will take place October 24 thru October 26 at the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. The Early bird rates end September 30, so register soon! You can register for the conference and find out more details at fcsm2023.org.
Upcoming Events
COPAFS Quarterly Meeting: December 1
COPAFS will hold its next Quarterly Meeting on Friday, December 1, 2023. This will be a virtual meeting and the agenda will be posted in November.
2023 APPAM Fall Conference: November 9-11
The 2023 Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management’s Fall Conference will take place on November 9-11, 2023 in Atlanta, GA. The theme of the conference is “Policy that Matters: Making Public Services Work for All”. For more information, click here.
Agency Releases
Bureau of Economic Analysis (DOC)
- On September 29, Personal Income by State, 2nd Quarter 2023 was released. Personal income, in current dollars, increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia in the second quarter of 2023, with the percent change ranging from 6.1 percent in New York and the District of Columbia to –2.7 percent in Maine.
- On September 27, the US International Investment Position, 2nd Quarter 2023 was released. The U.S. net international investment position, the difference between U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and liabilities, was –$18.00 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2023. Assets totaled $33.58 trillion, and liabilities were $51.58 trillion. At the end of the first quarter, the net investment position was –$16.74 trillion (revised).
Bureau of Justice Statistics (DOJ)
- On September 20, the Prison Report Series: Preliminary Data Release was made available. The U.S. prison population was 1,230,100 on December 31, 2022, a 2% increase from 2021 (1,205,100). At yearend 2022, persons sentenced to more than 1 year under the legal authority of state and federal correctional authorities accounted for 96% (1,185,500) of the total U.S. prison population. At yearend 2022, 32% of persons sentenced to state or federal prison were black, while 31% were white, 23% Hispanic, 10% multiracial or some other race, 2% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 1% Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander.
- On September 14, Criminal Victimization, 2022 was released. The violent victimization rate increased from 16.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons in 2021 to 23.5 per 1,000 in 2022. From 1993 to 2022, the overall rate of violent victimization declined from 79.8 to 23.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older. In 2022, about 2 in 5 (42%) violent victimizations were reported to police. Motor vehicle theft victimization increased from a rate of 4.3 victimizations per 1,000 households in 2021 to 5.5 per 1,000 in 2022.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (DOL)
- On September 27, the Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment – August 2023 was released. Unemployment rates were higher in August than a year earlier in 189 of the 389 metropolitan areas, lower in 186 areas, and unchanged in 14 areas. A total of nine areas had jobless rates of less than 2.0 percent and five areas had rates of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 66 metropolitan areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 322 areas. The national unemployment rate in August was 3.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted, little changed from a year earlier.
- On September 21, Employee Benefits in the United States – March 2023 was released. Retirement benefits were available to 94 percent of private industry union workers and 68 percent of private industry nonunion workers in March 2023. Sixty-six percent of private industry union workers had access to defined benefit plans and 63 percent had access to defined contribution plans. Ten percent of private industry nonunion workers had access to defined benefit plans and 68 percent had access to defined contribution plans.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics (DOT)
- On September 29, BTS announced that the Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey is coming back. Since 1963, the Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS) has been the principal data source on the physical and operational characteristics of the truck population in the United States. After 20 years, VIUS is back! The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) restored the VIUS for a better and more recent understanding of the characteristics and use of trucks, vans, mini-vans, and sport utility vehicles on our Nation’s roadways. The data will guide investments in our Nation’s transportation infrastructure and vehicle technologies. It will also be used to evaluate truck safety, estimate emissions and energy consumption, and understand the role of trucks in economic activity.
- On September 1, an analysis of the Unemployment in Transportation Dashboard revealed that the unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation sector was 4.9% (not seasonally adjusted) in August 2023 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In August 2023, the transportation sector unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points from 4.6% in August 2022 and was just above the pre-pandemic August 2019 level of 4.8%. Unemployment in the transportation sector reached its highest level during the COVID-19 pandemic (15.7%) in May 2020 and July 2020.
Census Bureau (DOC)
- On September 28, the 2021 Business Dynamics Statistics were released. The data provide measures of business dynamics, such as job creation and destruction, establishment births and deaths, and firm startups and shutdowns for the economy overall and aggregated by establishment and firm characteristics. BDS is an annual time-series, covering the years 1978 to 2021.
- On September 14, the Criminal Victimization, 2022 was released. The violent victimization rate increased from 16.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons in 2021 to 23.5 per 1,000 in 2022. From 1993 to 2022, the overall rate of violent victimization declined from 79.8 to 23.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older. In 2022, about 2 in 5 (42%) violent victimizations were reported to police. Motor vehicle theft victimization increased from a rate of 4.3 victimizations per 1,000 households in 2021 to 5.5 per 1,000 in 2022.
Economic Research Service (USDA)
- On September 28, COVID-19 Working Paper: The Evolution of US Farm Sector Profitability Forecasts in 2020 was released. This report discusses the evolution of the 2020 farm sector income forecasts, illustrating how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and related economic uncertainty affected the forecasts. USDA, ERS overestimated 2020 cash receipts and underestimated 2020 production expenses, generally resulting in an overprediction of the 2020 farm sector income relative to official estimates in all four forecasts. The first forecast (released in February 2020) was close to the estimated value because the dollar value of the overprediction of cash receipts nearly offset the underprediction of direct Government payments.
- On September 21, Scenarios of Global Food Consumption: Implications for Agriculture The global land base is under increasing pressure to provide food for a growing population. This report describes how increasing population, income, and agricultural productivity may affect global production and consumption of crops and food products by 2050. Results show that in an income-driven food demand scenario, production of world crop calories increases by 47 percent from 2011 to 2050. Production of crop calories is a useful indicator of pressure on the land base. Crop calories are the product of population, per capita food calories available for consumption, and crop calories required per calorie of food. With an income-driven diet and population growth of 39 percent, available food calories grow by 44 percent, and crop calories grow by 47 percent from 2011 to 2050. Growth in crop calories reflects income driven shifts to greater total food calories per person and an increasing share of animal products in food consumption.
- On September 28, COVID-19 Working Paper: The Evolution of US Farm Sector Profitability Forecasts in 2020 was released. This report discusses the evolution of the 2020 farm sector income forecasts, illustrating how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and related economic uncertainty affected the forecasts. USDA, ERS overestimated 2020 cash receipts and underestimated 2020 production expenses, generally resulting in an overprediction of the 2020 farm sector income relative to official estimates in all four forecasts. The first forecast (released in February 2020) was close to the estimated value because the dollar value of the overprediction of cash receipts nearly offset the underprediction of direct Government payments.
- On September 21, Scenarios of Global Food Consumption: Implications for Agriculture The global land base is under increasing pressure to provide food for a growing population. This report describes how increasing population, income, and agricultural productivity may affect global production and consumption of crops and food products by 2050. Results show that in an income-driven food demand scenario, production of world crop calories increases by 47 percent from 2011 to 2050. Production of crop calories is a useful indicator of pressure on the land base. Crop calories are the product of population, per capita food calories available for consumption, and crop calories required per calorie of food. With an income-driven diet and population growth of 39 percent, available food calories grow by 44 percent, and crop calories grow by 47 percent from 2011 to 2050. Growth in crop calories reflects income driven shifts to greater total food calories per person and an increasing share of animal products in food consumption.
Federal Register Notices
There were 34 federal register notices posted by federal statistical agencies from August 26, 2023 to September 25, 2023. Links to each of these notices are organized by agency below.
Bureau of Economic Analysis (DOC) – 1 New Notice
Bureau of Justice Statistics (DOJ) – 13 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 9/25/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; New Collection; Recruitment Outreach Data Collection | Link |
| 9/20/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection, eComments Requested; Revision of a Previously Approved Collection; Report of Theft or Loss of Controlled Substance and Report of Loss or Disappearance of Listed Chemicals | Link |
| 9/19/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) | Link |
| 9/15/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Monthly Return of Arson Offenses Known to Law Enforcement | Link |
| 9/15/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; ASRE of Persons Arrested Under 18 Years of Age; ASRE of Persons Arrested 18 Years of Age and Over | Link |
| 9/15/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; NICS Firearm Disposition Record | Link |
| 9/15/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery | Link |
| 9/11/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Controlled Substances Import/Export Declaration | Link |
| 9/11/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Application for Permit To Export Controlled Substances, Application for Permit To Export Controlled Substances for Subsequent Reexport | Link |
| 9/11/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Application for Permit To Import Controlled Substances for Domestic and/or Scientific Purposes | Link |
| 9/11/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Revision of a Previously Approved Collection; Report of Loss or Disappearance of Listed Chemicals and Regulated Transactions in Tableting/Encapsulating Machines | Link |
| 9/11/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Import/Export Declaration for List I and List II Chemicals | Link |
| 9/7/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Revision and Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Certification and Release of Records | Link |
Bureau of Labor Statistics (DOL) – 2 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 9/18/2023 | Information Collection Activities; Comment Request concerning the proposed revision of the “The Consumer Expenditure Surveys: The Quarterly Interview and the Diary.” | Link |
| 9/11/2023 | Comment Request concerning the plan to improve the Import and Export Price Indexes (MXPI) estimates by using administrative trade data acquired from the U.S. Census Bureau. | Link |
Bureau of Transportation Statistics (DOT) – 1 New Notice
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 9/5/2023 | Agency Information Collection: Activity Under OMB Review; Report of Passengers Denied Confirmed Space-BTS Form 250 | Link |
Census Bureau (DOC) – 5 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 9/22/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Annual Business Survey | Link |
| 9/19/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; American Community Survey Methods Panel: 2024 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Test | Link |
| 9/19/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Automated Export System (AES) | Link |
| 9/12/2023 | Qualifying Urban Areas for the 2020 Census; Correction | Link |
| 9/1/2023 | Census Scientific Advisory Committee | Link |
Economic Research Service (USDA) – No New Notices
Energy Information Administration (DOE) – 2 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 9/14/2023 | Agency Information Collection Proposed Extension – The Natural Gas Data Collection Program | Link |
| 8/30/2023 | Agency Information Collection; Proposed New Survey – Electric Emergency Incident and Disturbance Report | Link |
National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA) – 4 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 9/25/2023 | Notice of Intent To Reinstate a Previously Approved Information Collection: Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) Survey | Link |
| 9/12/2023 | Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection – Agricultural Surveys Program | Link |
| 9/8/2023 | Notice of Request for a Renewal of an Information Collection; Fast Track Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Programs – Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Programs | Link |
| 9/8/2023 | Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection – Fruits, Nuts, and Specialty Crops Surveys | Link |
National Center for Education Statistics (DOEd) – 4 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 9/21/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2024 Amendment #3 | Link |
| 9/8/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; School Pulse Panel 2023-24 Second Quarter Revision | Link |
| 9/6/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 2020/25 Beginning Postsecondary Students (BPS:20/25) Field Test | Link |
| 8/29/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) Survey 2023-2025 | Link |
National Center for Health Statistics (HHS) – 1 New Notice
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 9/5/2023 | Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review – Public Health/Public Safety Strategies to Reduce Drug Overdose Data Collection | Link |
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NSF) – 1 New Notice
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 9/22/2023 | Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; National Training, Education, and Workforce Survey | Link |
Office of Research, Evaluation & Statistics (SSA) – No New Notices
Statistics of Income Division (IRS) – No New Notices