COPAFS News
2024 FCSM Conference – Call for Abstracts
The 2024 FCSM Research and Policy Conference will take place October 22 thru October 24 at the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. The call for abstracts has been released and abstracts are due April 8th. Visit fcsmconf.org for details leading up to the conference.
Friends of NCHS ask for $220MM for FY25 Appropriation
Citing a myriad of statistical innovations and investments needed to strengthen NCHS, the Friends of NCHS is advocating for $220MM in the FY25 federal budget. Data-users seek a) more real-time data to inform core indicators of health and healthcare; b) more granular data on key population subgroups including those defined by age, gender, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, and geographic area; and c) data on health and healthcare equity especially in regard to the immediate and long-term consequences of the COVID pandemic. NCHS has lost 19% of its purchasing power since FY10 due to inflation and few increases in budget over the past 14 years.
Friends of BLS ask for $812MM for FY25 Appropriation
The Friends of BLS is advocating for $812MM in funding for FY25. The requested allocation represents a significant increase from the FY24 PBR of $758MM that is necessary to fund critical initiatives including modernizing existing systems and establishing new data products at BLS. Without these funds, BLS will be forced to curtail spending on its programs which could endanger data quality or continuity. BLS has lost 14% of its purchasing power since FY09 due to inflation.
COPAFS Quarterly Meeting Presentations
The presentations from each Quarterly Meeting are posted shortly following the meeting on the original meeting agenda. Ex: December 2023 Quarterly Meeting. This includes links to the topics which Karin Orvis refers to in her OMB Update each quarter. For COPAFS Members the full video (sans the OMB Update) is available on the Members Only site.
Upcoming Events
COPAFS Quarterly Meeting: March 1
COPAFS will hold its next Quarterly Meeting on Friday, March 1, 2024. We have secured space at USDA (near Smithsonian Metro) for this meeting but will also have a hybrid option available for those who cannot join in-person. The meeting agenda is now available.
2024 FCSM Conference: Call for Abstracts
The Call for Abstracts for the 2024 FCSM Research & Policy Conference was just released on Monday, January 29, 2024. The deadline for turning in abstracts is April 8, 2024. For updates about the conference please visit fcsmconf.org.
American Education Research Association – 2024 Annual Meeting: April 11-14
The AERA 2024 Annual Meeting will be held April 11-14, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA. The theme is “Dismantling Racial Injustice and Constructing Educational Possibilities.” For more information, visit the conference site.
American Association for Public Opinion Research – 79th Annual Meeting: May 15-17
AAPOR’s 79th Annual Conference will be held May 15-17, 2024 in Atlanta, GA. The theme is “Impacting Communities: Surveys, Public Opinion Research, and Engaged Scholarship.” For more information, visit the conference site.
Agency Releases
Bureau of Economic Analysis (DOC)
- On February 7, US International Trade in Goods and Services, December and Annual 2023 was released. The goods and services deficit was $62.2 billion in December, up $0.3 billion from $61.9 billion in November, revised. For 2023, the goods and services deficit was $773.4 billion, down $177.8 billion from $951.2 billion in 2022. Exports were $3,053.5 billion, up $35.0 billion from 2022. Imports were $3,826.9 billion, down $142.7 billion from 2022.
Bureau of Justice Statistics (DOJ)
- On February 20, Justice Assistance Grant Program, 2022 was released. The total allocation for the 2022 JAG funding was approximately $291.4 million, of which $285.1 million went to states and $6.4 million to U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. The five states with the largest total allocations were California ($32.8 million), Texas ($24.1 million), Florida ($17.1 million), New York ($15.1 million), and Illinois ($10.7 million). A total of 1,594 local governments were eligible for awards, either directly or through a joint award with other governments within their county. The five local governments eligible to receive the largest awards were New York City ($4.3 million), Los Angeles ($2.3 million), Chicago ($2.2 million), Houston ($2.1 million), and Philadelphia ($1.5 million).
Bureau of Labor Statistics (DOL)
- On February 21, County Employment and Wages – Third Quarter 2023 was released. From September 2022 to September 2023, employment increased in 309 of the 360 largest U.S. counties. In September 2023, national employment increased to 153.8 million, a 1.5-percent increase over the year, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Hall, GA, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 5.4 percent. Employment data in this release are presented for September 2023, and average weekly wage data are presented for third quarter 2023. Among the 360 largest counties, 169 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. In the third quarter of 2023, average weekly wages for the nation increased to $1,334, a 0.1-percent increase over the year. Clayton, GA, had the largest third quarter over-the-year wage gain at 7.7 percent.
- On February 16, Producer Price Indexes – January 2024 was released. The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.3 percent in January, seasonally adjusted. Final demand prices declined 0.1 percent in December 2023 and advanced 0.1 percent in November. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand rose 0.9 percent for the 12 months ended January 2024. In January, the advance in the index for final demand can be traced to a 0.6-percent rise in prices for final demand services. In contrast, the index for final demand goods decreased 0.2 percent.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics (DOT)
- On February 12, Total U.S. Airline Industry Employment, December 2023 was released. U.S. airline industry (passenger and cargo airlines combined) employment decreased to 812,698 workers in December 2023, 1,492 (0.18%) fewer workers than in November 2023 (814,190) and 63,208 (8.43%) more than in pre-pandemic December 2019 (749,490).
- On February 8, U.S. Airline Traffic Data – October 2023 was released. U.S. airlines carried 82.6 million systemwide (domestic and international) scheduled service passengers in October 2023. When adjusted for seasonality, October enplanements are up 1.2% from September and reached a new all-time high in October 2023.
Census Bureau (DOC)
- On February 6, the Census Director’s Blog focused on Disability Questions in the ACS. In a Federal Register notice posted in October 2023, Census proposed changing the ACS questions on disability to a set of questions based on the Washington Group Short Set (WG-SS) on functioning. That proposal would have aligned with international standards from the United Nations and advances in measuring disability. The Census Bureau received more than 12,000 comments in response to the Federal Register notice outlining all of the proposed changes to the ACS. Based on public feedback, Census plans to retain the current ACS disability questions for collection year 2025.
- On February 20, Commuting in the United States: 2022 was released. Almost 140 million people in the United States routinely commuted to work in 2022, and more than 20 million worked from home. Among U.S. workers, 15.2% worked from home in 2022, down from almost 17.9% in 2021 but still far higher than the 5.7% that worked from home before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. Among workers in Puerto Rico, 5.9% worked from home in 2022, down from 7.4% in 2021 but more than twice the 2019 share of 2.4%. The share of U.S. workers driving alone to work was 68.7% in 2022, about 7 percentage points less than the 75.9% in 2019. In Puerto Rico, 82.7% of workers drove alone to their place of work in 2022, compared to 84.3% in 2019, a decline of less than 2 percentage points.
Economic Research Service (USDA)
- On February 20, The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, 2024 Edition was released. In response to the rising need for food and nutrition assistance during the pandemic and to support social distancing, USDA allowed temporary changes to WIC operations related to eligibility determination, recertification, and benefits issuance. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided $390 million for WIC outreach, innovation, and program modernization, which allowed USDA to extend some of the temporary program changes through FY 2024. Following the temporary changes to program operations and investments in program modernizations, total participation in WIC increased for the first time in more than a decade.
- On February 1, An Overview of Farms Operated by Socially Disadvantaged, Women, and Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers in the US was released. Hispanic and NH SDA farms were less likely to receive farm payments (11 and 21 percent of farms received payments, respectively) than NH White farms (34 percent). Hispanic and NH SDA farms were more likely to specialize in specialty crops, beef cattle, and other livestock, which are not commonly covered by direct Government agricultural programs. Hispanic and NH SDA farms were less likely to hold loans from the Farm Credit System or commercial banks than were NH White farms. However, the average amount borrowed among borrowers did not differ across the three farm categories.
Energy Information Administration (DOE)
- On February 20, Domestic Uranium Production Report – 4th Quarter 2023 was released. U.S. production of uranium concentrate (U3O8) in the fourth quarter of 2023 totaled 12,653 pounds U3O8. This quarter’s total uranium production occurred at four facilities, three in Wyoming (Nichols Ranch ISR Project, Lost Creek Project, and Smith Ranch-Highland Operation) and one in Nebraska (Crowe Butte Operation).
- On February 16, State Energy Data Systems (SEDS): 2022 was released. SEDS is the source of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) comprehensive state energy statistics. EIA’s goal in maintaining SEDS is to create historical time series of energy production, consumption, prices, and expenditures by state that are defined as consistently as possible over time and across sectors for analysis and forecasting purposes.
National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA)
- On February 13, data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture was released. Ag census data provide valuable insights into demographics, economics, land use and activities on U.S. farms and ranches. There were 1.9 million farms and ranches (down 7% from 2017) with an average size of 463 acres (up 5%) on 880 million acres of farmland (down 2%). That is 39% of all U.S. land. Family-owned and operated farms accounted for 95% of all U.S. farms and operated 84% of land in farms. U.S. farms and ranches produced $543 billion in agricultural products, up from $389 billion in 2017. With farm production expenses of $424 billion, U.S. farms had net cash income of $152 billion. Average farm income rose to $79,790. A total of 43% of farms had positive net cash farm income in 2022. Farms with internet access continued to rise from 75% in 2017 to 79% in 2022.
National Center for Education Statistics (IES)
- On February 7, Long-Term Trends Assessment Results were released. The average scores in LTT reading and mathematics for 9-year-olds in 2022 were higher than the earliest assessments in the 1970s, but lower compared to the previous assessments in 2020. The 2022 reading score for 9-year-old students was 7 points higher than 1971, but 5 points lower than 2020. The 2022 mathematics score for 9-year-olds was 15 points higher than 1973, but 7 points lower than 2020. The average score in LTT reading for 13-year-olds in 2023 was not statistically significantly different from 1971 and was 4 points lower compared to the previous assessment in 2020. The average LTT mathematics score for 13-year-olds in 2023 was 5 points higher than in 1973, but 9 points lower than 2020.
- On February 5, the Common Core of Data (CCD) data files were released. The primary purpose of the CCD is to provide basic information on public elementary and secondary schools, local education agencies (LEAs), and state education agencies (SEAs) for each state, the District of Columbia, and the outlying territories with a U.S. relationship. CCD is composed of two components: Nonfiscal CCD and Fiscal CCD.
National Center for Health Statistics (CDC)
- On February 20, Infection Control Policies and Practices in Residential Care Communities by Selected Organizational and Geographic Characteristics: US 2020 was released. Most RCCs reported having a written Emergency Operations Plan that was specific to or included pandemic response. A higher percentage of RCCs with more than 26 beds and those with a designated space for dementia care reported having a written Emergency Operations Plan and a designated staff to coordinate an infection control program. The largest differences were observed in the provision of annual influenza vaccination to residents and to all employees or contract staff by MSA status, bed size, and presence of a designated space for dementia care.
- On February 15, Living Alone and Feelings of Depression Among Adults Age 18 and Older was released. Overall, 16.0% of adults lived alone in 2021. Reported feelings of depression were higher among adults living alone (6.4%) compared with adults living with others (4.1%), for both men and women, across most race and Hispanic-origin groups, and by family income. Adults who reported never or rarely receiving social and emotional support and living alone were almost twice as likely to report feelings of depression than those never or rarely receiving social and emotional support and living with others (19.6% compared with 11.6%, respectively).
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NSF)
- On February 14, Science and Technology: Public Perceptions, Awareness, and Information Sources was released. This report describes confidence in science, understanding of scientific research and new topics such as neurotechnology and artificial intelligence, and engagement with science through media and scientific activities. The majority of U.S. adults—77% as of September 2022—express at least a fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the public interest.
Statistics of Income (IRS)
- On February, the 2021 Individual Income Tax Returns Line Item Estimates (Publication 4801) was released. This publication provides estimates of frequencies and amounts of the entries on the lines of the forms and schedules filed with individual tax returns as shown on the 2021 Individual Income Tax Returns Complete Report weighted file. The estimates are based on returns filed in Processing Year 2022 that were sampled statistically and then weighted to estimate the entire 2021 Tax Year.
Federal Register Notices
There were 33 federal register notices posted by federal statistical agencies from January 26, 2024, to February 25, 2024. Links to each of these notices are organized by agency below.
Bureau of Economic Analysis (DOC) – 1 New Notice
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 2/20/2024 | Nomination of Individuals to the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee | Link |
Bureau of Justice Statistics (DOJ) – 13 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 2/20/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Crime Data Explorer (CDE Feedback Survey) | Link |
| 2/15/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; The Arson and Explosives Training Registration for Non-ATF Employees | Link |
| 2/15/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Police Check Inquiry | Link |
| 2/13/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Reinstatement of a Previously Approved Collection; Capital Punishment Report of Inmates Under Sentence of Death | Link |
| 2/13/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Revision of a Previously Approved Collection; COPS Application Package | Link |
| 2/13/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Revision of a Previously Approved Collection; COPS Application Package | Link |
| 2/12/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension, With Change, of a Currently Approved Collection; Survey of Sexual Victimization | Link |
| 2/9/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Revision of a Previously Approved Collection; FOIAXpress/FOIA Public Access Link | Link |
| 2/6/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Records and Supporting Data: Importation, Receipt, Storage, and Disposition by Explosives Importers, Manufacturers, Dealers, and Users Licensed | Link |
| 2/5/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; National Prisoner Statistics Program: Maternal Health Supplement | Link |
| 2/2/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; New Collection; Application for Remission of Financial Penalties | Link |
| 2/2/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Revision of a Previously Approved Collection; Application for Certificate of Pardon for Simple Possession of Marijuana | Link |
| 2/1/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; Hate Crime Incident Report | Link |
| 1/29/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Reinstatement With Change of a Previously Approved Collection; September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Claimant Eligibility and Compensation Form | Link |
Bureau of Labor Statistics (DOL) – 3 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 2/14/2024 | Information Collection Activities; Comment Request – Proposed revision of the “National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. | Link |
| 2/7/2024 | Information Collection Activities; Comment Request – Proposed extension of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages Program | Link |
| 2/6/2024 | Information Collection Activities; Comment Request – Proposed revision of the “Report on Current Employment Statistics.” | Link |
Bureau of Transportation Statistics (DOT) – No New Notices
Census Bureau (DOC) – 7 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 2/22/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Current Population Survey, Fertility Supplement | Link |
| 2/21/2024 | Census Scientific Advisory Committee | Link |
| 2/16/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for Collection of State Administrative Records Data | Link |
| 2/15/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; High-Frequency Surveys Program/Household Pulse Survey | Link |
| 2/9/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Quarterly Financial Report | Link |
| 1/29/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) | Link |
| 1/26/2024 | Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Quarterly Financial Report | Link |
Economic Research Service (USDA) – No New Notices
Energy Information Administration (DOE) – 3 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 2/22/2024 | Agency Information Collection Proposed Extension – Form EIA–63C | Link |
| 2/21/2024 | Agency Information Collection Extension – Form DOE–417 Electric Emergency Incident and Disturbance Report | Link |
| 2/9/2024 | Agency Information Collection Proposed Extension – Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities Survey | Link |
National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA) – 1 New Notice
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 2/23/2024 | Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection – Hemp Production and Disposition Inquiry | Link |
National Center for Education Statistics (DOEd) – 3 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 2/22/2024 | Proposed Priorities and Requirements-Technical Assistance on State Data Collection-National Technical Assistance Center To Improve State Capacity To Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate Early Childhood IDEA Data | Link |
| 2/22/2024 | Applications for New Awards; Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities-National Center on Rigorous Comprehensive Education for Students With Disabilities | Link |
| 2/15/2024 | Committee and Quarterly Board Meetings | Link |
National Center for Health Statistics (HHS) – 2 New Notices
| Date | Notice | URL |
|---|---|---|
| 2/16/2024 | Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review | Link |
| 2/5/2024 | National Center for Health Statistics, Meeting of the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee | Link |
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