Texting up, newspapers down, and more info from the U.S. Census Bureau

The ways and frequencies of our communications methods are rapidly evolving, as evidenced by the fact that the number of text messages sent on cell phones has more than doubled from 48 billion in 2007 to 110 billion in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010. The Statistical Abstract, also known as "Uncle Sam's Almanac," has been published since 1878, before automobiles, airplanes and motion pictures were even on the scene.

Contained in this 129th edition are more than 1,400 tables of social, political and economic facts which collectively describe the state of our nation and the world. The stats are gleaned from the U.S. Census Bureau, and other governmental agencies and private organizations.

Some of the highlights from the Statistical Abstract include:

Newspapers: The number of daily newspapers declined from 1,480 in 2000 to 1,408 in 2008. The average number of daily newspapers sold dropped from 55.8 million copies in 2000 to 48.6 million in 2008.

Web Surfing at the library: In 2007, the nation's 16,604 libraries collectively had an average of 12.5 public-use computers connected to the Internet per library. In Florida libraries, there were an average of 24.4 computers and in Maryland libraries there were an average of 19.4 public-use computers connected to the Internet and were well above the U.S. average. At the other extreme, Vermont and Maine libraries each had averages of 4.7 and 4.9 Internet-connected computers per public library.

Can you hear me now? In 2007, the average consumer spent $1,110 on telephone services. Residential telephone and pay phone services made up 43 percent of total expenditures, with cell phone service comprising 55 percent and phone cards and pager services making up the remaining 2 percent. In 2008, there were more than 270 million cell phone subscribers; they paid an average monthly bill of $50 with the average call lasting 2.5 minutes. (Table 1112)

Going away to college: In 2006, Rhode Island (25.8 percent), Vermont (28.0 percent), New Hampshire (37.6 percent), Delaware (37.7 percent) and Massachusetts (49.9 percent) had the lowest percentages of college freshmen enrolled in-state. Utah (89.9 percent), Louisiana (89.4 percent), North Carolina (87.8 percent), West Virginia (87.6 percent), and Indiana and Oklahoma (both with 86.9 percent) had the highest percentages.

Armed and dangerous: In 2007, 6% of all students reported carrying a weapon on school property at least once during the previous month: 10.2 percent of males and 2.6 percent of females.

You gotta play to win ... and you gotta eat: Despite the economic downturn, we're gambling and eating out more. Lottery sales increased from $52.4 billion in 2007 to $53.4 billion in 2008, with $30.4 billion in sales for instant scratch-off tickets.

Working Flextime: In 2008, 37 percent of employers allowed all or most employees to periodically change starting and quitting times. Eight percent of employees were permitted to compress the workweek by working longer hours on fewer days, 8 percent to share jobs, 57 percent to return to work gradually after childbirth or adoption and 47 percent to take an extended career break for care giving and other personal or other family reasons.

Into orbit: Of the 69 worldwide orbital space launches in 2008, 41 were noncommercial and 28 commercial. The U.S. conducted 15 total launches, Russia 26, China 11 and Europe six.

Deadly roads: In 2007, Russia suffered 235 road fatalities per 1 million inhabitants, more than any other country. Poland was next (147), followed closely by Estonia (146) and Slovenia (145). The U.S., by comparison, experienced 136 road fatalities per 1 million inhabitants.

The most (and least) expensive places to live: Harare, Zimbabwe, has the highest cost of living for private U.S. employees living abroad of any city in the world: 143 percent higher than in Washington, D.C. Geneva, Switzerland, is a close second, with living costs 135 percent higher than in the nation's capital. On the other end of the spectrum, La Paz, Bolivia, and Tegucigalpa, Honduras, have some of the lowest living costs (16 percent less than D.C.).

The 2010 Statistical Abstract may be obtained by calling the U.S. Government Printing Office:
phone: 202-512-1800
reference the ISBN # 003-024-09075-9, $37 for the soft cover edition;
and ISBN # 003-024-09074-1, $41 for the hard cover edition - http://bookstore.gpo.gov/ ).

Copies are also available by calling the National Technical Information Service at
800-363-2068 or 703-605-6060 (PB2009-965301,
$39 for the hard cover edition http://www.ntis.gov/products/statabs.aspx ).

A CD-ROM version of the book will be available in the near future.

Every edition of the Statistical Abstract, dating from 1878, is available in PDF or zip files on the Census Bureau's Web site at http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab /.

(Souce: U.S. Census Bureau/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab2006_2010.html/
(cover image/Microsoft Office Online).

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