Data: Introducing our new Chief Economist

U.S. Department of Commerce sent this bulletin at 12/15/2015 05:01 PM EST
Plus second quarter growth in service industries across states, and a map of likely snowfall across the United States in time for Christmas

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U.S. Department of Commerce
Data (12/15/15)
Weekly updates on what we're doing to maximize the positive impacts of Commerce data on society.
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U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Announces Dr. Ellen Hughes-Cromwick as New Chief Economist
12/15/2015
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced that Dr. Ellen Hughes-Cromwick will serve as the Department of Commerce’s new Chief Economist. Dr. Hughes-Cromwick is on leave from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, following a distinguished, 18-year career with the Ford Motor Company.
Investigating Economic Indicators: Upcoming Trade Webinar
12/15/2015
Tune into the final webinar for the year that will study the relationships between different manufacturing-related economic indicators, as well as discover how manufacturing indicators relate to other federal data. The Manufacturing, Products and Goods Across Indicators webinar will be held on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. (EST).
Considerations for Coastal Elevation Mapping
12/14/2015
High resolution elevation data is critical for many types of spatial analyses. Coastal zone analyses that utilize elevation data include visualizing the future impacts of sea level rise or coastal flooding, estimating shoreline erosion, quantifying vulnerability to coastal hazards, or identifying the sources and pathways of eroded soils entering water bodies. 
Are You Dreaming of a White Christmas?
12/11/2015
For those of you dreaming of a white Christmas, this map depicts which places have the best chance of being a winter wonderland according to weather history. The “Historical Probability of a White Christmas” map shows the climatological probability of at least 1 inch of snow being on the ground on December 25 in the contiguous United States. On the map, dark gray shows places where the probability is less than 10 percent, while white shows probabilities greater than 90 percent.
Department of Commerce Honored for Data & Technology Innovation
12/10/2015
FedScoop, a Washington DC-based government IT media company, recently honored three Department of Commerce innovators under its annual "FedScoop 50" awards.  Commerce's CIO, Steve Cooper, won the "GoldenGov Federal Executive of the Year". The Department's new prioritization on Data was also a winner in two ways.  First, the newly hired Deputy Chief Data Officer, Tyrone Grandison, won "Most Inspiring Up & Comer".  Second, one of the data products the Department invented – a civic information integrator called "CitySDK" – won "Innovation of the Year".
Second Quarter Growth in Service Industries Widespread Across States
12/10/2015
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 46 states and the District of Columbia in the second quarter of 2015. Overall, U.S. real GDP by state grew at an annual rate of 3.8 percent in the second quarter of 2015 after increasing 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2015. Finance and insurance; professional, scientific, and technical services; and wholesale trade were the leading contributors to real U.S. economic growth in the second quarter.
County-Level Nutrition Assistance Program Data are a Collaboration Between Government Agencies
12/09/2015
Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2014 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for all school districts, counties, and states. These estimates are used to allocate federal funds to school districts for the next school year. Also released today were counts of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants at the county and state levels for most years between 1989 and 2013. These counts are drawn from the source data of the SAIPE, and are the only source of SNAP participant total all U.S. counties.
GDP by State Statistics for Second Quarter of 2015 to be Released December 10
12/09/2015
The release marks the first time that BEA is producing quarterly GDP by state statistics on a regular basis. Previously, BEA had released prototype statistics showing the quarterly economic performances of states. Before the prototype statistics were created, BEA produced only annual estimates of state GDP. These new statistics will provide more timely information on how state economies are faring.
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