Some Challenges Facing Federal Statistics in the United States

Abstract

Are the federal statistical agencies in the United States meeting the needs of their many users? Surveys that are required for policy purposes in health, education, labor, and other areas are being conducted with well tested statistical designs that so far have reasonable margins of error. The decennial census, even with an under and over count meets the needs of the Constitution and thousands of federal, state, and local data users. Measures, including labor force data, gross domestic product, the system of national accounts, health, education, and income estimates are excellently covered by the federal statistical agencies. Estimates of the population are reasonable even in situations where high immigration and/or internal migration, which have disproportionate influence, take place. The agencies are very sensitive of the need to maintain the confidentiality of respondents. Based on the above, it sounds as if the federal statistical system in the United States is healthy and on track; yet what about the future?