Saturday, August 30, 2014

Recalls Look-up by VIN

"Owners may not always know their recalled vehicle still needs to be repaired. NHTSA's new search tool lets you enter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to quickly learn if a specific vehicle has not been repaired as part of a safety recall in the last 15 years..."
Automobile recalls

Labor Day: 2014

 "The first observance of Labor Day was likely on Sept. 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers assembled in New York City for a parade. That celebration inspired similar events across the country, and by 1894 more than half the states were observing a "working men's holiday" on one day or another. Later that year, with Congress passing legislation and President Grover Cleveland signing the bill on June 29, the first Monday in September was designated "Labor Day." This national holiday is a creation of the labor movement in the late 19th century and pays tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers..."
Labor Day -2014

Thursday, August 28, 2014

HHS and CMS announce new members of the management team ahead of 2015 Open Enrollment

"Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced today the most recent in a series of management hires intended to ensure a successful 2015 Open Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace and make good on the promise that millions more Americans will be able to access quality, affordable health coverage.
Kevin Counihan will join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) team as Marketplace Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  In addition, Lori Lodes has been named the new Director of Communications for CMS..."

Affordable Care Enrollment

2014 Ebola Outbreak: Information and Updates

Get the latest information on the Ebola outbreak from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ebola


Mumps: Be Sure Your Child Is Fully Immunized

"Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Infected people can spread mumps when they breathe, cough, and sneeze. They can also spread it by sharing items such as cups and eating utensils, and touching surfaces that are then touched by others. There is no treatment for mumps, and it can cause long-term health problems. People in the United States still get mumps, and outbreaks continue to occur.
Protect Your Child with Mumps Vaccine
Mumps vaccine is the best way to protect your child against mumps. It is usually given as part of a combination vaccine that protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). The MMR vaccine is safe and effective..." 
Mumps

Stay Healthy at Animal Exhibits This Fall

"From watching calf roping at the rodeo to petting goats at the county fair, there are many ways to explore the animal world. Exhibits such as petting zoos and fairs allow children of all ages to have the thrilling experience of coming face-to-face with animals. This interaction allows people to learn more about animals and helps to build an important human-animal bond.

Unfortunately, many people become sick every year because of a visit to an animal exhibit. It is important to remember that animals sometimes carry germs that are harmful to humans. When people forget to wash their hands after petting an animal, or bring food or drinks into an area where animals are exhibited, they are at risk for becoming ill. You can learn more about these germs and how they cause illness by visiting CDC's Healthy Pets Healthy People site..."

Animal Exhibits

An Update to the Budget and Economic Outlook: 2014 - 2024

"The federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2014 will amount to $506 billion, CBO estimates, roughly
$170 billion lower than the shortfall recorded in 2013. At 2.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), this year’s deficit will be much smaller than those of recent years (which reached almost 10 percent of GDP in 2009) and slightly below the average of federal  deficits over the past 40 years. However, by CBO’s estimates, federal debt held by the public will reach 74 percent of GDP at the end of this fiscal year—more than twice what it was at the end of 2007 and higher than in any year since 1950..."
Federal budget

Survey of Public Pension, State Data: 2012

"The Survey of Public Pensions: State-Administered Defined Benefit Data provides revenues, expenditures, financial assets, membership, and liabilities information for defined benefit public pension systems. Data are shown by state, for the state-administered systems. There are 227 state-administered defined benefit public pension systems, all of which are represented here..."
Public pensions

Climate Change and Existing Law: A Survey of Legal Issues Past, Present, and Future

"This report surveys existing law for legal issues that have arisen, or may arise in the future, on account of climate change and government responses thereto. At the threshold of many climate-change-related lawsuits are two barriers—whether the plaintiff has standing to sue and whether the claim being made presents a political question. Both barriers have forced courts to apply amorphous standards in a new and complex context.."

Climate change and law

U.S. Direct Investment Abroad (USDIA): Preliminary 2012 Data

"This publication presents preliminary data on the financial structure and operations of U.S. multinational enterprises (MNEs) and their foreign affiliates from the 2012 annual survey of U.S. direct investment abroad, conducted by the Bureau of Economic Analysis..."
Investment abroad

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Trends in producer prices between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail trade establishments

"Electronic retailing, or e-commerce, is becoming an increasingly important activity within the U.S. economy. As a component of the retail trade index within the Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer
Price Index (PPI) program, the electronic retailing index measures changes in margins received by retailers who conduct sales transactions online..."
1

e-commerce, retail trade

Review of Alleged Patient Deaths, Patient Wait Times, and Scheduling Practices at the Phoenix VA Health Care System

"On May 28, 2014, we published a preliminary report, Review of Patient Wait Times, Scheduling
Practices, and Alleged Patient Deaths at the Phoenix Health Care System – Interim Report, to ensure all veterans received appropriate care and to provide VA leadership with recommendations for immediate implementation. This report updates the information previously provided in the Interim Report to reflect the final results of our review. We focused this report on the following five questions
and identified serious conditions at the PVAHCS and throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)..."
Veterans, VA

Monday, August 25, 2014

2012 Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Crash Facts

"This book contains statewide information about traffic crashes and their human
consequences. The statewide counts are parsed out in several levels of detail including: types of crashes, the county or municipality location of crashes, types of vehicles in crashes, severity of injuries, and age and gender of drivers..."
Wisconsin motor vehicle crashes

Friday, August 22, 2014

Census Bureau Provides Informed Picture of the State of the U.S. Auto Manufacturing Industry

"Since its birth more than 100 years ago, the U.S. automobile manufacturing industry has experienced significant growth to not only become one of the largest U.S. manufacturing industries but also one of the biggest industries in the U.S. economy. The changes this industry has faced have included periods of decline as well as growth, such as the most recent recession and subsequent recovery. Throughout these years, the U.S. Census Bureau has provided consistent, comparable, and reliable statistics that are critical to understanding this industry.
The Annual Survey of Manufactures provides insight into the changes in this industry in the years between economic censuses..."
Automobile Industry

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Distribution of Household Wealth in the U.S.: 2000 to 2011

"Household net worth, or wealth, is an important indicator of  economic well-being in the United  States. Median household net  worth decreased by $5,046, or 6.8
percent, between 2000 and  2011..."
Household wealth

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Plan and protect your finances with a my Social Security account

"Whether you’re one of the millions of workers who pay Social Security taxes or the 50 million retired Americans and dependents who receive benefits, it’s good to keep track of your Social Security benefits. National My Social Security Week takes place August 17 to 23 — the perfect time to take a step toward creating an online account with the Social Security Administration at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. This account will give you secure and convenient online access to your personal Social Security information, including your earnings records and estimated benefits. If you already receive Social Security benefits, you can change your address and phone number, get a benefit verification letter and start or change direct deposit information..."
mySocial security account

Telemarketing Regulation: National and State Do Not Call Registries

"The development and implementation of the national do not call list was not straightforward. No
single law creates the list. Instead, it developed from a combination of statutes and regulations over time, as Congress and the federal agencies tasked with the responsibility of regulating telemarketing developed strategies to better alleviate perceived consumer harm. This report will outline the laws underpinning the national do not call list; describe the regulations implementing
the list; answer some of the most frequently asked questions related to the list; and discuss the possible penalties for violating the rules.."

Telemarketing

Economic Chcracteristics of Households in the United States:2008-2012

Find data on median household income and selected benefits by households for the periods 2008-2012.
Household Characteristics

Monday, August 18, 2014

School Meals: Child Nutrition Programs

"The Food and Nutrition Service administers several programs that provide healthy food to children including the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and the Special Milk Program.  Administered by State agencies, each of these programs helps fight hunger and obesity by reimbursing organizations such as schools, child care centers, and after-school programs for providing healthy meals to children..."
School meals

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Understanding Geographic Relationships: Geographic Summary Levels

"The third installment of our geographic relationships series discusses geographic summary levels and how American FactFinder uses them to provide tabulated data.

To protect individual privacy, the Census Bureau provides summaries of data for geographic areas. For example, you cannot find the median household income for a particular house, but you can find the median household income for the census tract or county for where that house is located. Each summary level, identified by a unique three-digit number, represents a different geographic entity for which the Census Bureau summarizes data..."

Geographic summary levels

Thursday, August 14, 2014

A YEAR OF ACTION: PROGRESS REPORT ON RAISING THE MINIUMUM WAGE

Find information of efforts to raise the minimum wage since President Barack Obama called for a raise in his Sate of the Union address in January 2014.
Minimum wage

Reducing the Budget Deficit: Overview of Policy Issues

"The federal budget deficit was the largest it has be en since World War II as a percentage of GDP
from 2009 to 2012, peaking at 10.1% of GDP. This occurred because spending reached its highest share of GDP since 1945 and revenues reached their lowest share of GDP since 1950. Since then, the deficit has declined to a projected 2.8% of GDP in 2014, which is still above the 1946 to 2008 average. Over the next 25 years, deficits are projected to become very large again under current
law.
The recent decline in the deficit is partly due to improvements in the economy, the expiration of temporary measures taken in response to the recession, and spending cuts (mainly to discretionary spending).."
Budget deficits

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Six Tips for College Health and Safety

"Going to college is an exciting time in a young person’s life. It’s the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. College is a great time for new experiences, both inside and outside the classroom. Here are a few pointers for college students on staying safe and healthy..."
College, health, and safety

Managing Diabetes at School

"A person with diabetes must manage this chronic illness all the time, including during the school day. Staff such as nurses, teachers, and coaches can work with you and your child on managing diabetes. This assistance may include helping your child take medications, check blood sugar levels, choose healthy foods in the cafeteria, and be physically active..."
Diabetes at school

Friday, August 8, 2014

Richard M. Nixon Resignation August 8, 1974

"Reconciliation was the first goal set by President Richard M. Nixon. The Nation was painfully divided, with turbulence in the cities and war overseas. During his Presidency, Nixon succeeded in ending American fighting in Viet Nam and improving relations with the U.S.S.R. and China. But the Watergate scandal brought fresh divisions to the country and ultimately led to his resignation..."
President Richard M. Nixon

Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters: Overview

"The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) is the Nation's Scorekeeper in terms of addressing severe weather/climate events in their historical perspective. As part of its responsibility of monitoring and assessing the climate, NCDC tracks and evaluates climate events in the U.S. and globally that have great economic and societal impacts. NCDC is frequently called upon to provide summaries of global and U.S. temperature and precipitation trends, extremes, and comparisons in their historical perspective. Found here are the weather/climate events that have had the greatest economic impact from 1980 to 2013. The U.S. has sustained 170 weather/climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2013). The total cost of these 170 events exceeds $1 trillion..."
Climate disasters and economics

Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2013

"..This report presents findings from the September 2013 survey. The survey covered a range of top-
ics—including household financial well-being, housing, credit availability, borrowing for education, savings, retirement, and medical expenses—meant to round out the understanding of how households are faring financially..."

Economics of U.S. households

Veterans’ Disability Compensation: Trends and Policy Options

"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) oversees a disability program that makes payments through the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to compensate U.S. veterans for medical cond
itions or injuries that are incurred or aggravated during active duty in the military,
although not necessarily during the performance of military duties. Compensable service-connected disabilities range widely in severity and type, including the loss of one or more limbs, migraines, scars, and hypertension. Payments are meant to offset the average earnings lost as a result of those conditions, whether or not a particular veteran’s condition has reduced his or her earnings or interfered with his or her daily functioning..."

Veterans disability compensation

Understanding Geographic Relationships: American Indian Areas

"The Hierarchy of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Areas displays the relationship between both legal and statistical American Indian Area boundaries. The hierarchy portrays relationships with a line and shows where relationships do not exist by displaying entities on different line tracks. For example, you can see how tribal census tracts and tribal block groups are related..."
Geographic relationships and American Indians

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Nonmarital Births: An Overview

"This report analyzes the trends in nonmarital childbearing, discusses some of the characteristics of unwed mothers, addresses some issues involving the fathers of children born outside of  marriage, and offers some concluding remarks.."
Nomarital births

The Legislative Process

Find nine videos from the Congress.gov website explaining the process of how a bill become a law.
Legislative Process

Monday, August 4, 2014

What are the Reasons to Vaccinate My Baby?

"Raising a child comes with many decisions. Some are a matter of taste, like what color to paint the nursery. Others are essential, especially when it comes to safety, like baby proofing your home for potential hazards. But, what about the hazards that you can't see and that can cause serious illness, disability, or even death in young children? Immunization gives you the power to protect your baby from 14 serious childhood diseases..."
Vaccination


WHAT’S THE DEAL? An FTC Study on Mobile Shopping Apps

"Through a variety of new mobile applications (“apps”), technology is rapidly changing the way
consumers shop. Today’s mobile apps offer new beneficial services designed to enhance the consumer shopping experience. These apps allow smartphone users to compare competing products and retailers in real-time, seek out the best deals, and pay for their purchases by waving their phones at the checkout counter. Many of these apps have been installed on millions of devices, and all use mobile technology to alter consumers’ shopping.
To better understand the consumer protection implications of these emerging products and services, Federal Trade Commission staff studied some of the most popular apps that allow consumers to compare prices across retailers, collect and redeem deals, or pay for purchases while shopping in brick-and-mortar stores..."
Shopping apps

New Evidence Proves Wireless Carriers Are Not Protecting Consumers From Bogus Charges on Their Phone Bills


"Today’s hearing is about a practice known as “cramming,” where consumers get charged on their phone bills for goods and services they never agreed to purchase.
The companies that put these bogus charges on phone bills know that consumers don’t always notice small charges when we pay our monthly bills. Some consumers have continued paying these charges for months – or even years – before noticing they were being ripped off..."
Wireless charges

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

"Learn how reducing, reusing, and recycling can help you, your community, and the environment by saving money, energy, and natural resources. Recycling programs are managed at the state and local level—find information on recycling in your community..."
Recycle

Largest industries by state, 1990–2013

"In 1990, the manufacturing industry was the leading employer in most U.S. states, followed by retail trade. In 2003, retail trade was the leading employer in a majority of states. By 2013, health care and social assistance was the dominant industry in 34 states. This animated map shows the top industry in each state and the District of Columbia from 1990 to 2013..."
Industries by state

Friday, August 1, 2014

Understanding Geographic Relationships: Counties, Places, Tracts and More

"Geography is at the center of taking a census. We do not just count people; we count people where they live. Geography is important because it is the basis for taking a census and for tabulating census data. The Census Bureau also maintains unique geographic areas that other local, state and federal agencies use..."
Understanding geographic relationships

Your Money, Your Goals: Financial empowerment tools for social services

"Many people feel overwhelmed by their financial situations, and they may not know where to go for help. For many low-income Americans, frontline staff of nonprofit and public social services programs are in a unique position to provide that help.
Their clients already know and trust them, and in many cases, they’re already sharing financial information with them. Social workers and case managers know, however, that the financial stresses clients face may interfere with their progress toward other goals, like finding and keeping secure housing, staying in school, or even landing a job. As they make progress toward those goals, financial missteps can often erase their hard-fought gains.
That’s why social services programs across the country are taking steps to integrate financial empowerment into the work they do each day with their clients. To support their efforts, we’ve developed and field-tested a toolkit for financial services programs called Your Money, Your Goals..."

Consumer finance