Technology

New Tool Takes Guesswork Out Of Economic Indicators

The Census Bureau has introduced a new, user-friendly Internet tool that takes all the guesswork out of finding, downloading and using data from economic indica...

Federal News Radio Custom Media@WTOPWFEDcustom

December 1, 2010 11:44 am

< a min read

The Census Bureau has introduced a new, user-friendly Internet tool that takes all the guesswork out of finding, downloading and using data from economic indicators.

For the first time, users can access data from several different economic indicators in one place and all in the same format. Bureau official say it provides an easy way to create data tables in text or time series charts in your favorite spreadsheet format.

Users can select an indicator and choose data by item, time period and other dimensions using drop-down menus. Of the Census Bureau’s 12 economic indicators, four are operational in the new tool now – international trade, manufactures’ shipments, monthly wholesale trade and quarterly services. The remainder are expected to be become available throughout the course of 2011.