"GIF" Giving This Holiday Season
'Tis the season and the Census Bureau wishes you the happiest of holidays!
Census Bureau data touches almost every aspect of American lives. As our "GIFT" to you, we made 12 animated GIFs to share Census Bureau data and stories about some of the most common gifts given during the holidays.
12. Gifts for Pets
Whether it barks, meows, or swims, pet owners love to spoil their fur-babies with gifts during the holidays. The Census Bureau has data and resources about the pet industry.
According to this America Counts story, half of American households own pets and money spent on time-saving pet care services doubled in the last decade.
Statistics in Schools offers this fun guide on National Pet Day!
We have tons of information on diamonds and other gifts that sparkle!
Did you know that the U.S. Census Bureau is the gatekeeper of diamond data for the United States—one of 81 countries that have joined forces to eliminate trade in conflict diamonds, commonly referred to as “blood diamonds”?
10. Gifts for Kids
If there is one thing that the holidays are about for every parent, it is seeing the look of joy on our children's faces when they get a special toy.
Unwrap this box of economic data about toys with this new data visualization, Toys for the Holidays!
Also, be sure to check out these Statistics in Schools activities for kids, Holiday Fun Using Real-Live Data.
9. Gifts for the Home
Whether you live in festively-named Santa Claus, IN, Noel, MO, or anywhere else, you may be giving or receiving gifts for the home. The Census Bureau has a wide range of data on housing!
The Census Bureau’s housing data present a comprehensive picture of housing in America. You’ll find data on the size, age and type of American homes; home values, rents and mortgages, the housing and construction industry, and more.
Did you know? The average square footage of new homes sold in the United States increased from 2,457 in 2010 to 2,724 in 2015 but dropped in 2019 to 2,518, according to the Census Bureau’s Characteristics of New Housing.
8. Gifts You Can Eat
Whether you love cookies, candy, latkes, challah, pie, or fruitcake, sharing food is an age-old tradition. The Census Bureau collects data on selected products sold at grocery stores across the nation.
Check out these two interactive data visualizations on Grocery Store Sales when you are planning for your holiday.
7. Gifts You Can Drink
Before you ring in the new year with your favorite drink, learn how the Census Bureau collects a variety of economic data on the alcohol industry from breweries to wineries and international trade.
Read this America Counts story about how the microbrewery business is hopping. Explore an interactive data visualization too!
This overview of the alcohol industry breaks down the different types of data the Census Bureau collects from businesses across the country.
6. Gifts for Decoration and Celebration
$2.1 billion
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas ornaments from China for 2019. China led the way with 92.4% of the U.S. total imports of Christmas ornaments.
$484.9 million
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree lights for 2019. Cambodia led the way with 47.3% of the total U.S. imports of Christmas tree lights.
According to the National Pawnbrokers Association, Gift Day began when a small group of pawnbrokers were wondering how they could give something back to their community over the holidays. Learn more about how this ties in to the many transformations that lead to Sinterklaas becoming Santa Claus.
5. Gifts You Can Wear
Whether it is a pair of socks, new shoes, or an ugly Christmas sweater, the Census Bureau collects data on clothing sales as part of a new experimental data set called Monthly State Retail Sales (MSRS).
Learn more about this innovative blended data product that launched in September of 2020.
Want to compare clothing sales between January of 2019 and January of 2020? Interact with this Monthly Retail Sales Data Viz by selecting your state, month, and industry.
4. Gifts You Can Watch or Listen To
Giving instruments, tickets, or attending a holiday performance, such as The Nutcracker, are common holiday gifts. The way that we come together to sing, dance, and enjoy live performances has changed this year. We miss and look forward to seeing live performances again but appreciate the ingenuity and resourcefulness that has gone into keeping the arts alive.
The Census Bureau has a wide variety of data on performing arts and the entertainment industry.
 3. Gifts That Can Take You Places
While this holiday season is different for millions of Americans this year, we can still appreciate the beauty of our National Parks and outdoor spaces.
When it is safe to do so again, families across the country will hit the road in Recreational Vehicles (RVs). This America Counts story looks at the growth of the RV industry since 2012.
2. Gifts That Bring Good Cheer
Are you one of the millions who are mailing greeting cards this holiday season?
Believe it or not, the Census Bureau collects data on greeting card publishers (NAICS 511191) from our Service Annual Survey.
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