How the BEA Calculates Real GDP: Chain-Weighting and Base Years Explained

| Data & Methodology |

Real GDP is the federal government’s primary measure of U.S. economic output, but it is not a simple sum of goods and services. The Bureau of Economic Analysis builds real GDP using chain-type indexes and chained-dollar measures, which remove the effects of price changes and allow meaningful comparisons over time. Rebasing changes the reference year for real estimates, but it does not alter the percentage changes that analysts use to track growth.

Read More →

How Population Growth Affects Congressional Seats: 2030 Apportionment Projections by State

| United States |

Every decade, the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are redistributed among states based on population counts. Mid-decade estimates and 2030 projections suggest the South and Mountain West could gain seats, while parts of the Northeast and Midwest may lose them. If 2024 Census Bureau estimates were used today, Texas and Florida would each gain two seats, Arizona and Idaho would each gain one, and Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon would each lose one.

Read More →

Which Industries Drive Each State’s Economy? Top GDP Sectors by State

| Industries & Sectors |

Real estate is the largest industry in 26 states, while manufacturing leads in 13 states, according to recent Bureau of Economic Analysis data. Finance and insurance dominate in four states, and sectoral shares vary widely—from information in Washington to mining in North Dakota. This article breaks down the top GDP sectors by state and explains the national patterns behind them.

Read More →

Population Density by City: 2020 Census Rankings for U.S. Cities and Metros

| Rankings |

The 2020 Census shows extreme variation in U.S. city population density, from dense urban villages in the Northeast to sprawling metros. Friendship Heights Village, Maryland, leads all places with about 90,800 people per square mile, while New Jersey and New York dominate the top rankings. This article breaks down the latest official density figures, methods, and what they reveal about urbanization.

Read More →

Median Income by Household Type: Married Couples, Single Parents, and Nonfamily Households

| Income & Cost of Living |

Median household income in the United States varies sharply by household type. Married-couple families consistently report the highest median incomes, while female-householder families with children and nonfamily households report the lowest. The most recent Census Bureau data show a gap of roughly two-to-one between married-couple families and female-householder families.

Read More →