USAFacts

The federal government collected $4.5 trillion and spent $6.2 trillion last year, resulting in a $1.7 trillion deficit. Let's break down the federal budget: Revenue: Individual income taxes (49%) and payroll taxes (37%) were the main sources. Overall revenue dropped 15% from 2022 and was 8% above 2019 levels. Spending: The top categories were Social Security (22%), state transfers (18%), and defense/veterans (18%). Overall spending decreased 8% from 2022 and was 16% higher than 2019. Notice something interesting in the bottom right? Education spending was negative in 2023 due to the Supreme Court's ruling on student loan forgiveness which reversed anticipated spending from 2022. This Sankey chart helps visualize these complex flows (we recommend zooming). Did anything in this chart surprise you? #dataviz #usafacts #sankey #revenue #spending #deficit

How much more will your summer cookout cost 🌭compared to last year? We looked at some price changes for popular items that may show up at this year's BBQ. USAFacts wishes you a Happy Independence Day. 🎆

USAFacts celebrated the graduates of the Data Skills for Congress course in Washington, DC last week. 🎓 In collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley, Goldman School of Public Policy, the Congressional staffer graduates acquired new skills in data analysis and visualization, gained familiarity with current and emerging federal data policies, learned about the challenges of integrating local and federal data, and received a basic introduction to data practices within Congress. Congratulations to all! 📜🥂 #dataskills #congress

Earlier this week, USAFacts founder Steve Ballmer appeared on Fox News TV to discuss immigration, border crossings, and working with government officials to push for better data. No matter your stance on the topic, grounding discussions with accurate, fresh data is key to making informed decisions. "Policy aside, there was a recognition that we don't have all the numbers we would want." Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gBbNJTAs

In between his meetings with Congress, USAFacts founder, Steve Ballmer, sat down with CNBC Squawk Box to discuss the newest economic data, plus his thoughts on the defecit 💵 and if AI increases productivity. 💻. 📺WATCH: https://lnkd.in/diGsdppM?

💊 Opioids have claimed the lives of over 800,000 Americans between 1999 and 2023, becoming a substantial national public health issue. In 2023, fentanyl — a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin— accounted for 80.0% of opioid-related overdoses, according to provisional CDC data. How do fentanyl deaths vary by race? 📖 https://lnkd.in/gH5qPHVD

💡 🔌 As of 2022, the US energy sector employed over 8.12 million people, making up about 5% of all jobs nationwide. This workforce segment includes roles in electric power generation, transmission, distribution, storage, and clean energy technologies. Clean energy jobs, which focus on energy conservation and alternative energy development, now account for 38% of this workforce or approximately 3.1 million jobs. As the US aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the energy sector's role is increasingly pivotal. Texas and California lead with the nation in energy jobs in oil and natural gas production, and renewable energy, respectively." The sustainable energy shift is also evident how the electric vehicle sector has rapidly transformed the energy landscape. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gB4dbM-M

At Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Summit earlier this month, Poppy MacDonald shared how USAFacts is ensuring people are equipped with accurate, impartial, and easily accessible information ahead of the November election. “It’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of effort. And we are happy to be able to dedicate resources to doing that on behalf of citizens.” https://lnkd.in/gjf4jXWX

Big News: USAFacts earns top marks on the Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart! 📈 When we say USAFacts is unbiased, we mean it. Now we’ve got the chart to prove it. This month, we made our debut in the latest Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart and the result speaks for itself. Our commitment to presenting objective, data-driven information has earned us a spot in the top tier for reliability. But that’s not all—we’ve also scored squarely in the center of the partisan bias scale, underscoring our commitment to nonpartisan, factual content. In today’s media landscape, USAFacts stands out as a trusted source of impartial information. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and integrity of our team, who work tirelessly to gather and present government data in a clear, accessible way. We believe that an informed public is the key to a thriving democracy, and we’re proud to be a trusted source of information to make that possible. 💪 Take a look at the chart and see for yourself – USAFacts is leading the charge in sharing reliable data to answer Americans’ most pressing questions about our country.

Last evening, USAFacts President Poppy MacDonald spoke to Jay Woodruff at Fast Company's MIC Summit about our mission as a civic organization. “We don’t advocate for outcomes, but we do advocate that government data should be open, accessible, and available to the public,” MacDonald said. Thank you Poppy MacDonald and Michelle Broderick for representing USAFacts in the Big Apple! 🍎