Data Points: New Resources and Other Noteworthy Developments

Go behind the scenes of a key Beige Book source and check out the research pages of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.  Like the other 11 district banks, the Atlanta Fed contributes to the Fed’s Beige book, and you can find links to data sources for its regional snapshots on its Regional Economic Information Network (REIN).  

When the Census Bureau begins to release 2009 data from the American Community Survey (ACS) in September, the agency will provide “new and notable” coverage, including details on college degrees and health insurance that were added to the survey, reported Census economist Susan Schechter April 12 to attendees of NABE’s Professional Development Seminar (PDS). Watch for new postings and release schedules on the ACS pages of the Census website.

As the recovery gains steam, many economists are focusing on the small business outlook.  For the a broad array of data and the latest research on small business issues—including job growth prospects—check out the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy site.

Retrieve state and regional data for a selection of key indicators on the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s “Regional Economic Accounts: Quick Links” pages.  Links take you to data sets, articles, news releases, maps, and charts showing trends in gross domestic product by state and metropolitan area, quarterly and annual state personal income, and more.  

Using data from the National Compensation Survey program, Bureau of Labor Statistics research economist John Bishow concludes:  “The use of bonuses in the finance and insurance industry is clearly higher than the average across all other service-providing industries. Bonuses were found to play a particularly important role for management, professional, and related occupations within the finance and insurance industry.”  Between March 2006 and March 2009, supplemental pay (overtime, bonuses, and shift differentials combined) in the finance and insurance sector accounted for 6.9 percent of gross earnings, compared with about 3.3 percent for the service-providing sector overall, Bishow found in the study released April 21 on the BLS website.  

You can track global trends on multiple fronts through the St. Louis Federal Reserve’s collection of charts for several economic indicators across many countries. The bank’s research staff designed the charts “to provide accurate and useful information on the current economic environment and behavior of economic data around business cycle turning points.  “Tracking the Global Economy” also has links to page where you can start with pre-set graphs to create your own charts.

With a majority of private economists calling an end to the recession that began in late 2007, the Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research—the official arbiter of business cycles—decided on April 8 to wait until its members see more conclusive evidence.   “Although most indicators have turned up, the committee decided that determination of the trough date on the basis of current data would be premature. Many indicators are quite preliminary at this time and will be revised in coming months,” the committee said.  Find the statement and comprehensive reports and charts on business cycles on the NBER website.

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