USAFacts

Welcome to #JustTheFacts, a new series featuring our founder Steve Ballmer and data directly from the US government. Americans deserve clear, trustworthy facts to make up their minds on today’s most pressing issues. Join Steve as he walks through the data on immigration, the economy, healthcare, and much more to help you inform your perspective. Get the numbers — not rhetoric — ahead of the US elections. Watch our first episodes tomorrow 8/1 on Fox at 9 PM ET/PT and 8PM CT/MT. https://lnkd.in/gDAes94B

Spotted: USAFacts! It was great to see the Department of Government Efficiency share our data over the weekend.? ? Our commitment to providing clear, reliable, and nonpartisan data is stronger than ever. We're here to empower every American — and administration — with the facts they need to stay informed and make sound decisions.

Is your #Thanksgiving dinner more or less expensive this year? ??? As Americans gather this week for the holiday, let’s take a look at some classic dishes by the data.? ? ?? Turkey prices are down by 3.9%? ??Potato prices decreased by 1.5%? ?? Gravy prices are the same? ?? Frozen pies are about the same (+0.1%)? ?? Biscuit prices increased by 2.3%?

?? What matters most to parents when choosing a school? Nearly 80% of parents considered the quality of teachers and staff “very important,” according to a 2019 study by the Education Department. Other priorities were safety (71%) and curriculum focus (60%). 35% of parents considered schools other than the one their child attended. This rate doubles to 72% for parents whose kids went to a nonreligious private school. Parents with kids assigned to public schools were least likely to consider alternatives, at 30%.

How far into pregnancy do most #abortions occur? In 2021, nearly all states reported that most abortions occurred within the first 9 weeks of gestation. In 19 states, most abortions occurred at 6 weeks or less, while in another 21 states, the majority happened between 7 and 9 weeks. Missouri was the only state where the largest percentage of reported abortions (23.3%) occurred at 21 weeks or later into pregnancy. The state banned elective abortions in 2022. Note: 2021 data is the most recent available from the CDC.

With all the headlines surrounding the Department of Education, our team did what we do best: dug into the data to deliver clear, nonpartisan facts. Proud of our small but mighty team!?

Is your grocery bill higher than last year? If you answered “yes,” you’re not alone. Grocery food prices increased 1.3% from September 2023 to September 2024. While that’s less than the increase of 2.4% for commodities (such as gas, utilities, and consumer goods), you may be feeling the impact on your wallet. And this isn't a new trend — grocery prices have been increasing for more than just the past year. Food prices rose by 11% between 2021 and 2022, marking the largest annual increase in 40 years.

Do you know your state’s unemployment rate??The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the US #unemployment rate is 4.1% — a 0.3 percentage point increase from the same time last year. ? ? Unemployment rates are highest in:? ?? Washington, D.C.: 5.7%?(not a state, but included in this dataset) ? ?? Nevada: 5.6%? ??California: 5.3%? ?? Illinois: 5.3%? ? And lowest in:? ?? South Dakota: 2%? ?? Vermont: 2.2%? ?? New Hampshire: 2.5% *Chart correction: *Chart correction: Nebraska's unemployment rate is 2.7% (not 5.6%).

Whether we lean red or blue, the biggest patch of common ground any of us will ever find is the one beneath our feet. In our latest episode with Braver Angels, Monica Guzman digs into data at USAFacts and learns how nature connects us — and reveals our differences.? ? Monica uncovers answers to questions like:? ?? Where in America do people like to get out in nature the most?? ?? What states contribute the most to the national boating and fishing economy?? ? Stay tuned for more collaborations with A Braver Way podcast!?

There’s a lot of buzz around the U.S. Department of Education (ED) – but what does it do? Founded in 1980, the ED primarily funds student financial aid and K-12 programs. It’s the sixth highest-funded federal agency, receiving 4% of all federal funding in 2024 — totaling $268.35 billion. It’s also the smallest of any cabinet-level department with 4,100 full-time employees in 2023. Most ED funds go toward student financial aid ($160.69B), with two main programs supporting college students: Pell Grants and the federal student loan program. The ED’s funding has historically been around 2% of the federal budget. In 2022, federal spending on higher education increased due to debt forgiveness efforts but fell after the Supreme Court overturned the Biden administration’s loan forgiveness plan. According to ED, education is primarily a local and state responsibility rather than a federal one. Elementary and secondary education are mostly funded by local governments, while state governments support higher education.