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Random Samplings

The U.S. Census Bureau is the leading source of data about the population and economy of the United States. While the Census Bureau is best known for conducting a national headcount once every 10 years, the agency is continually conducting surveys that provide data about a variety of social and economic conditions.

Experts from around the Census Bureau will use Random Samplings to describe the objectives of their work and explain census and survey results. We hope this blog will increase awareness and use of the valuable data collected by the Census Bureau, and make this data more accessible to all users.

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Random Samplings Blog
Understanding Hard-to-Count and Historically Undercounted Populations
In a world driven by data, accurate population counts form the foundation for informed decision-making.


Random Samplings Blog
Difference Between the Supplemental and Official Poverty Measures
There has been continued debate about the best way to measure poverty in the U.S. since the first official U.S. poverty statistics were published.


Random Samplings Blog
International Collaboration Helps Us Transform To Build Our Nation’s 21st Century Data Infrastructure
Good data – comprehensive, timely and accurate – are an essential part of the world we live in.


Random Samplings Blog
The Currency of Our Data: A Critical Input Into Federal Funding
We often describe how the data can benefit people when we encourage them to respond to the census or to a U.S. Census Bureau survey.


Random Samplings Blog
The Difference Between the Supplemental and Official Poverty Measures
There has been continued debate about the best way to measure income and poverty in the United States since the first official U.S. poverty statistics were published in the mid-1960s.


Random Samplings Blog
An Overview of Addressing Nonresponse Bias in the American Community Survey During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Administrative Data
In this blog we will discuss an important modification to the American Community Survey (ACS)’s weighting procedures for the 2020 experimental data.


Random Samplings Blog
The Difference Between Supplemental and Official Poverty Measures
There has been continued debate about the best way to measure income and poverty in the United States since the first official U.S. poverty statistics were published in the mid-1960s.


Random Samplings Blog
How the Census Bureau Measures Income and Poverty
The U.S. Census Bureau releases income, poverty and health insurance statistics from its Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, known as CPS ASEC, every September.


Random Samplings Blog
Varying Degrees of Poverty, Thinking Beyond 'Poor' and 'Not Poor'
The concept of poverty is often interpreted as a state of being “poor” or “not poor.”


Random Samplings Blog
What Is the Supplemental Poverty Measure and How Does It Differ From the Official Measure?
Since publication of the first official U.S. poverty statistics, there has been a continuing debate about the best way to measure income and poverty in the United States.


Random Samplings Blog
How the Census Bureau Measures Income and Poverty
Income, poverty and health insurance statistics from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, known as CPS ASEC, are released every September.


Random Samplings Blog
Varying Degrees of Poverty, Thinking Beyond 'Poor' and 'Not Poor'
The concept of poverty is often interpreted as a state of being “poor” or “not poor.”


Random Samplings Blog
What Is the Supplemental Poverty Measure and How Does It Differ From the Official Measure?
Since the publication of the first official U.S. poverty statistics, there has been a continuing debate about the best way to measure income and poverty in the United States.


Random Samplings Blog
How the Census Bureau Measures Income and Poverty
Income, poverty and health insurance statistics from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, known as CPS ASEC are released every year in September.


Random Samplings Blog
Varying Degrees of Poverty, Thinking Beyond 'Poor' and 'Not Poor'
The concept of poverty is often interpreted as a state of being “poor” or “not poor.”


Random Samplings Blog
What Is the Supplemental Poverty Measure and How Does It Differ From the Official Measure?
Since the publication of the first official U.S. poverty statistics, there has been a continuing debate about the best way to measure income and poverty in the United States.


Random Samplings Blog
Examining the Effect of Off-Campus College Students on Poverty Rates
The estimates and figures presented here are designed to stimulate further thought about how college students impact poverty rates.


Random Samplings Blog
Uncovering Trends in Income and Poverty Using Model-Based Estimates
Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program models estimates of income and poverty for small geographies.


Random Samplings Blog
Was median household income in 2016 the highest median household income ever reported from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement?
On Tuesday, September 12, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2016 income, poverty and health insurance statistics from the CPS ASEC.


Random Samplings Blog
Census Bureau Releases 2016 Supplemental Poverty Measure
Today, the U.S. Census Bureau, in collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released its seventh annual supplemental poverty measure report.


Random Samplings Blog
Outlying Older Americans: The Puzzle of Increasing Poverty among those 65 and Older
On September 12, the U.S. Census Bureau released estimates from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, known as the CPS ASEC, showing that national poverty rates declined by 0.8 percentage points in 2016 — to a rate of 12.7 percent.


Random Samplings Blog
Recovering from Recession: Who Recovered and When?
Since June 2009, the U.S. economy has been experiencing what economists refer to as a “business cycle expansion.”


Random Samplings Blog
50 Years of Poverty Statistics
This year’s release of the official poverty rate will mark the 50th anniversary of the first national poverty statistics published by the U.S. Census Bureau.


Random Samplings Blog
How the Census Bureau Measures Income and Poverty
Income, poverty and health insurance statistics for 2016 from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, known as CPS ASEC, will be released Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017.


Random Samplings Blog
Varying Degrees of Poverty, Thinking Beyond 'Poor' and 'Not Poor'
The concept of poverty is often interpreted as a state of being “poor” or “not poor.”


Random Samplings Blog
What is the Supplemental Poverty Measure and How Does It Differ From the Official Measure?
Since the publication of the first official U.S. poverty statistics, there has been a continuing debate about the best way to measure income and poverty in the United States.


Random Samplings Blog
Collaboration Is Key to Producing Timely School District Poverty Estimates
Many factors play a role in a child’s educational success, and it is the mission of the U.S. Department of Education to promote excellence in education and ensure equal access.


Random Samplings Blog
A Comparison of Rural and Urban America: Household Income and Poverty
The U.S. Census Bureau today released data that show that nationally, rural Americans have lower median household incomes than urban households.


Random Samplings Blog
New Data Shows Poverty Rates Lower in 23 States in 2015
An Examination of Changes Across Economic Characteristics and Metropolitan Statistical Areas


Random Samplings Blog
2015 Drop in Poverty is Largest on Record Since 1999
Estimates released today from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) show the official poverty rate in the United States declined to 13.5 percent in 2015, a 1.2 percentage point drop from 2014.


Random Samplings Blog
Census Bureau Releases 2015 Supplemental Poverty Measure
Today the U.S. Census Bureau, in collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released its sixth annual supplemental poverty measure report.


Random Samplings Blog
"What Does it Mean to be in Poverty in the U.S., Statistically Speaking?"
You may have heard public officials or the media talk recently about the poverty rate in America. In advance of the U.S. Census Bureau’s release of its annual income and poverty reports next week, we thought it might be worth reviewing how poverty is officially defined and measured in the United States.


Random Samplings Blog
How the Census Bureau Measures Income and Poverty
Income, poverty and health insurance statistics for 2015 from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) will be released Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. One-year statistics from the 2015 American Community Survey (ACS) will be released on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016.


Random Samplings Blog
County-Level Nutrition Assistance Program Data are a Collaboration Between Government Agencies
Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2014 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for all school districts, counties, and states. These estimates are used to allocate federal funds to school districts for the next school year. Also released today were counts of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants at the county and state levels for most years between 1989 and 2013. These counts are drawn from the source data of the SAIPE, and are the only source of SNAP participant total all U.S. counties.


Random Samplings Blog
Census Bureau Releases 2014 Supplemental Poverty Measure
Today, the Census Bureau, with support from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released its fifth annual report, The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2014. This measure extends information provided by the official poverty measure by explicitly including benefits from many of the government programs designed to assist low-income families and individuals.


Random Samplings Blog
Comparison Guidance: Income and Poverty
Last year, the U.S. Census Bureau implemented methodological changes to the 2014 Current Population Survey’s Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC). Based on substantial research to improve the quality of the data we collect, we redesigned the way we asked the survey questions about income in 2014. Over the course of the past year, we evaluated the effects of the redesign and sought out experts to review and provide feedback on our efforts. Based on the results of our evaluation, we fully implemented the redesign in 2015.

Page Last Revised - December 5, 2023
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