The "Statistical Abstract of the United States, "is the
U.S. government's Standard summary of statistics on the social,
political, and economic organization of the United States. Designed
to serve as a convenient volume for statistical reference and as a
guide to other statistical publications and sources. The latter
function is served by the introductory text to each section, the
source note appearing below each table, and Appendix I, which
comprises the Guide to Sources of Statistics, the Guide to State
Statistical Abstracts, and the Guide to Foreign Statistical
Abstracts. This volume includes a selection of data from many
statistical sources, both government and private. Publications
cited as sources usually contain additional statistical detail and
more comprehensive discussions of definitions and concepts. Data
not available in publications issued by the contributing agency but
obtained from the Internet or unpublished records are identified in
the source notes. More information on the subjects covered in the
tables so noted may generally be obtained from the source.
