Random Samplings

Visualizing Foreign Trade Data

Recently, the U.S. Census Bureau added interactive graphs to the U.S. international trade data released each month. For example, these two graphs help you better understand international trade in petroleum.

The first graph shows the effect of prices on petroleum imports. The orange line shows the “nominal value” of petroleum imports for the month. The blue line shows the “real dollar” value, adjusted for 2005 prices. While the nominal value has a range of over $40 billion, the real dollar value range is less than $8 billion. To see the values for a month, just hover over the data point. (Visit the Foreign Trade website to interact with the graph). You can also turn either data series on-and-off by clicking it in the ledger.

You may have already heard of the U.S.’s significant imports of petroleum, but are you aware of the role petroleum plays in the U.S. trade deficit? Since 2006, petroleum has accounted for between 32% and 65% of the U.S. trade deficit in a given month. This interactive graph shows petroleum as a percent of the U.S. deficit for each month. You can hover over a data point to see the exact figure for that month.

All of the graphs we’ve added so far can be found here. We plan to add many more interactive graphs in the coming weeks and months. If there are any suggestions for data series you’d like to see included, please leave a comment below.

For more information on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade division, click here.

To read the Foreign Trade blog, click here.

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Green Stats

Earth Day is Friday, April 22. To help you celebrate, we offer a sampling of green data collected and published by the US Census Bureau.

According to the American Community Survey (5-year estimates):

• 0.5% of Americans bike to and from work. More men bike to work than women (0.7% vs. 0.3%).
• 10.5% of U.S. residents carpool to work. Men are more likely to carpool than women (11% vs. 10%).
• 5% of U.S. residents take public transportation to work. Women are more likely to take public transportation (5.4% vs. 4.6%).
• About 36,000 households in the United States rely on solar energy to heat their homes.

In 2009, according to data from the American Community Survey, the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island metropolitan area lead the nation in percent of workers who commuted by public transportation at 30.5%, followed by the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro area, with 14.6%.

The Census Bureau’s 2011 Statistical Abstract is an excellent source for additional green stats, including on Energy & Utilities: Solar and Renewable Energy, Emissions.

Did you know?

• In 2008, Washington state led the nation in hydro-electric energy generation and Texas was the top U.S. source of wind power.
• Additional states leading renewable energy generation in the U.S. included: California, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New York and Oregon.

The Statistical Abstract also includes data on:

• Geography & Environment: Air Quality
• Threatened and Endangered Wildlife and Plant Species
• Emissions Of Greenhouse Gases by Type and Source

The US Census Bureau is doing more than collecting data on the environment. Our green initiatives include:

• 2010 Census forms were printed on paper with 30 percent recycled content.
• The Census Bureau cafeteria uses biodegradable plates, green drinking cups, and recycled soup containers and napkins. Our cooking oil is recycled to make gasoline.
• Approximately 40% of the Census Bureau’s printers are set for duplex printing – printing on two sides of the paper – saving hundreds of thousands sheets of paper.
• Recycled paper at the Census Bureau is processed at the Arlington Resource and Recovery Facility where it is converted to help generate over 23 megawatts of renewable energy used for heating homes, schools and businesses.

How are you celebrating Earth Day this year? Did we miss any “green stats?” Share them here!

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