Pursuant to the requirements of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 (NOHRAA), the Department of Commerce (Department) analyzed changes in oil heat prices relative to other energy sources. The report presents the relevant price data and concludes that oil heat prices did not exceed the threshold established by the Act.

Since the official U.S. poverty measure was first published in 1964, there has been continuing debate about alternative approaches to the measurement of poverty. Recognizing that alternative statistics can provide useful information, the Office of Management and Budget's Chief Statistician formed an Interagency Technical Working Group on Developing a Supplemental Poverty Measure including...

The ramp-up in the 2010 Census operations this spring will markedly affect several economic indicators. Most notably, the hiring of temporary 2010 Census workers will likely increase the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) nonfarm payroll employment estimate by over half a million in May. The 2010 Census hiring may also affect the path of the unemployment rate by several tenths of a percentage point...

Most Americans consider themselves middle class. This raises the question, what does it mean to be middle class? This report examines various definitions, discusses middle-class values and aspirations and presents hypothetical budgets showing how these aspirations might be achieved with different incomes. Finally, we consider whether or not it is harder to live a middle-class lifestyle today than...

In April 2004, the 15th U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) established a statistical working group. Participating units from the Chinese side include the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese General Administration of Customs; the U.S. side includes the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. In view of the...

Pursuant to the requirements of the Propane Education and Research Act of 1996 (PERA), the Department of Commerce analyzed changes in propane prices relative to other energy sources. The report presents the relevant price data and concludes that propane prices have exceeded the threshold established by PERA. As a result, certain activities of the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) are...

This series of six reports examines the economic effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the economy of the Gulf Coast and document the economic recovery of affected states, localities and industries during the two years following the hurricanes. The first report was issued in October 2005, approximately two months after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast. The final report...

Pursuant to the requirements of the Propane Education and Research Act of 1996 (PERA), the Department of Commerce prepared this analysis of changes in propane prices relative to other energy sources. The report presents the relevant price data and concludes that propane prices have not exceeded the threshold established by PERA.