Among adults aged 45 or older, a growing share has two or more of nine chronic conditions, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Among 45-to-64-year-olds, the percentage with two or more conditions increased from 16 to 21 percent during the past decade, and among people aged 65 or older the figure grew from 37 to 45 percent. The nine chronic conditions are hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, current asthma, and kidney disease.
Among people aged 45 to 64 with at least two of these chronic conditions, more than one in five delayed getting medical care or did not get prescription drugs in the past year because of cost.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Multiple Chronic Conditions among Adults Aged 45 and Over: Trends Over the Past 10 Years
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Big Jobs and Average Pay in 2011
The 10 largest occupations account for more than one in five jobs in the United States. Here are the occupations and their annual average wage in 2011...
Retail salesperson: $25,130
Cashier: $20,230
Office clerk: $28,920
Food prep worker: $18,790
Registered nurse: $69,110
Waiter or waitress: $20,890
Customer service rep: $33,120
Janitor or cleaner: $24,840
Laborer: $26,240
Secretary: $33,020
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, An Overview of U.S. Occupational Employment and Wages in 2011
Retail salesperson: $25,130
Cashier: $20,230
Office clerk: $28,920
Food prep worker: $18,790
Registered nurse: $69,110
Waiter or waitress: $20,890
Customer service rep: $33,120
Janitor or cleaner: $24,840
Laborer: $26,240
Secretary: $33,020
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, An Overview of U.S. Occupational Employment and Wages in 2011
Monday, July 30, 2012
Household Income Stable in June
Median household income held steady between May and June 2012 after adjusting for inflation, according to the latest monthly update from Sentier Research. The June median of $50,964 was $265 greater than the May median, but the gain was not statistically significant.
"The trend in real median annual household income over the past several months has followed a noticeably uneven pattern...consistent with a struggling economy," notes Sentier in its report. The June median was 4.8 percent lower than median household income in June 2009--the end of the Great Recession. It was 7.2 percent lower than the median in December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. It was 8.1 percent lower than the median in January 2000.
The Household Income Index for June 2012 was 91.9 (January 2000 = 100.0).
"The trend in real median annual household income over the past several months has followed a noticeably uneven pattern...consistent with a struggling economy," notes Sentier in its report. The June median was 4.8 percent lower than median household income in June 2009--the end of the Great Recession. It was 7.2 percent lower than the median in December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. It was 8.1 percent lower than the median in January 2000.
The Household Income Index for June 2012 was 91.9 (January 2000 = 100.0).
Source: Sentier Research, Household Income Trends: June 2012
Homeownership Rates by Region: 2nd Quarter, 2012
Here are second quarter 2012 homeownership rates by region, and the percentage point (pp) decline from the record high annual homeownership rate for each region...
U.S. total: 65.5% (down 3.5 pp from 69.0% in 2004)
Northeast: 63.7% (down 1.5 pp from 65.2% in 2006)
Midwest: 69.6% (down 4.2 pp from 73.8% in 2004)
South: 67.4% (down 3.5 pp from 70.9% in 2004)
West: 59.7% (down 5.0 pp from 64.7% in 2006)
Source: Census Bureau, Housing Vacancy Survey
U.S. total: 65.5% (down 3.5 pp from 69.0% in 2004)
Northeast: 63.7% (down 1.5 pp from 65.2% in 2006)
Midwest: 69.6% (down 4.2 pp from 73.8% in 2004)
South: 67.4% (down 3.5 pp from 70.9% in 2004)
West: 59.7% (down 5.0 pp from 64.7% in 2006)
Source: Census Bureau, Housing Vacancy Survey
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Few Vegetarians
Only 5 percent of Americans aged 18 or older are vegetarians, according to a Gallup survey.
Vegetarianism does not vary much by demographic characteristic, with the largest percentage found among women (7 percent), people aged 50 or older (7 percent), liberals (7 percent), and the unmarried (8 percent).
Vegetarianism does not vary much by demographic characteristic, with the largest percentage found among women (7 percent), people aged 50 or older (7 percent), liberals (7 percent), and the unmarried (8 percent).
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Job Hopping among Boomers
Question: How many jobs have baby boomers had in their lifetime?
Answer: 11.3
We know this thanks to the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, a representative survey of people born from 1957 through 1964--or younger boomers. These boomers were first interviewed when they ranged in age from 14 to 22, then reinterviewed every year or two through 2010-11 when they were aged 45 to 53. As far as surveys go, it doesn't get much better.
Not surprisingly, this cohort held the largest number of jobs when they first entered the labor force--5.5 jobs between the ages of 18 and 24, on average. They held 3.0 jobs between the ages of 25 and 29, 2.4 jobs between the ages of 30 and 34, 2.1 jobs from ages 35 to 39, and another 2.1 jobs between the ages of 40 and 46.
If this sounds like a lot of job hopping, you're right. The Bureau of Labor Statistics remarks about the frequency of job change: "Although job duration tends to be longer the older a worker is when starting the job, these baby boomers continued to have large numbers of short-duration jobs even at middle age. Among jobs started by 40-to-46-year-olds, 33 percent ended in less than a year, and 69 percent ended in less than 5 years."
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Number of Jobs Held, Labor Market Activity, and Earnings Growth among the Youngest Baby Boomers: Results from a Longitudinal Survey
Answer: 11.3
We know this thanks to the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, a representative survey of people born from 1957 through 1964--or younger boomers. These boomers were first interviewed when they ranged in age from 14 to 22, then reinterviewed every year or two through 2010-11 when they were aged 45 to 53. As far as surveys go, it doesn't get much better.
Not surprisingly, this cohort held the largest number of jobs when they first entered the labor force--5.5 jobs between the ages of 18 and 24, on average. They held 3.0 jobs between the ages of 25 and 29, 2.4 jobs between the ages of 30 and 34, 2.1 jobs from ages 35 to 39, and another 2.1 jobs between the ages of 40 and 46.
If this sounds like a lot of job hopping, you're right. The Bureau of Labor Statistics remarks about the frequency of job change: "Although job duration tends to be longer the older a worker is when starting the job, these baby boomers continued to have large numbers of short-duration jobs even at middle age. Among jobs started by 40-to-46-year-olds, 33 percent ended in less than a year, and 69 percent ended in less than 5 years."
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Number of Jobs Held, Labor Market Activity, and Earnings Growth among the Youngest Baby Boomers: Results from a Longitudinal Survey
Friday, July 27, 2012
First-Time Homebuyer Watch: 2nd Quarter, 2012
Homeownership rate of householders aged 30 to 34, second quarter 2012: 47.5%
The 2nd quarter homeownership rate of householders aged 30 to 34 fell to 47.5 percent, well below the 50 percent threshold and 2.0 percentage points lower than a year ago. Overall, the homeownership rate in the nation as whole was 65.5 percent in the second quarter of 2012, only 0.4 percentage points below the 65.9 percent in the second quarter of 2011.
The homeownership rate of the 30-to-34 age group is the bellwether for the housing industry. Historically, the majority of householders have become homeowners in their early thirties. That is no longer the case as adults in their early thirties--many burdened by student loans--cannot afford to buy a home. In 2011, the annual homeownership rate of the 30-to-34 age group fell below 50 percent (to 48.9 percent) for the first time in the data series, which dates back to 1982.
The homeownership rate of the 30-to-34 age group is the bellwether for the housing industry. Historically, the majority of householders have become homeowners in their early thirties. That is no longer the case as adults in their early thirties--many burdened by student loans--cannot afford to buy a home. In 2011, the annual homeownership rate of the 30-to-34 age group fell below 50 percent (to 48.9 percent) for the first time in the data series, which dates back to 1982.
Every five-year age group ranging from 25-to-29 to 60-to-64 experienced a decline in homeownership between the second quarters of 2011 and 2012. The steepest decline in homeownership occurred in the 35-to-39 age group. The homeownership rate of householders aged 35 to 39 fell 2.9 percentage points between the 2nd quarter of 2011 (60.5 percent) and the 2nd quarter of 2012 (57.6 percent).
Source: Bureau of the Census, Housing Vacancy Survey
Source: Bureau of the Census, Housing Vacancy Survey
Thursday, July 26, 2012
New: Census Apps
Want to know how many 24-year-olds live in the city of Pittsburgh? There's an app for that, and in the near future there are likely to be many more apps providing easier access to demographic data. That's because the Census Bureau has released its first public Application Programming Interface (API), which allows developers to create apps for retrieving census and American Community Survey data.
Check out the Census Bureau's app gallery where you can experiment with new apps. Already available is the Age Finder app. Select a state, pick a county or city if so desired, choose a race and any age group or single year of age. Voila: 3,730 men (and 3,528 women) age 24 live in the city of Pittsburgh.
Check out the Census Bureau's app gallery where you can experiment with new apps. Already available is the Age Finder app. Select a state, pick a county or city if so desired, choose a race and any age group or single year of age. Voila: 3,730 men (and 3,528 women) age 24 live in the city of Pittsburgh.
Millions Are Disabled
One in five Americans aged 15 or older and half aged 65 or older have a disability, according to the Census Bureau. Difficulty walking is one of the most widespread problems, reported by 10 percent of people aged 15 or older and 31 percent of people aged 65 or older.
When asked what accounts for their disability, the most common causes are arthritis (25 percent), back problems (25 percent), diabetes (10 percent), and heart trouble (10 percent).
Of the 51 million people aged 15 or older with a disability, only 12 million require help from others. Eighty-nine percent get that help for free--mostly from family members.
Source: Census Bureau, Americans with Disabilities: 2010
When asked what accounts for their disability, the most common causes are arthritis (25 percent), back problems (25 percent), diabetes (10 percent), and heart trouble (10 percent).
Of the 51 million people aged 15 or older with a disability, only 12 million require help from others. Eighty-nine percent get that help for free--mostly from family members.
Source: Census Bureau, Americans with Disabilities: 2010
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Homeownership: Paradigm Shift?
Did the Great Recession and the collapse of the housing market scare away potential home buyers? A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston suggests that younger people--but not older--may see the Great Recession as a regime change and are adjusting their attitudes toward homeownership accordingly.
By adding questions to the Michigan Survey of Consumers in 2011, the authors of the study looked at attitudes toward homeownership by demographic characteristic and zip code to determine whether residents of areas most affected by the bursting of the housing bubble are more wary of homeownership than those who live in areas less affected. Two important findings emerge from the study: only those personally affected by the housing crash (or who knew someone who was) have doubts about the financial soundness of buying a home--and only if they are younger than age 58.
Why did the housing crash freak out younger generations more than older adults? Because younger adults, suggest the authors, can imagine a paradigm shift occurring in the housing market. "In terms of the striking age differential," the authors note, "one possibility is that relatively younger respondents were indeed more malleable in terms of their outlook, and hence they internalized the sharp drop in housing prices as a regime change. In the new perceived regime, housing is a risky investment and thus (relatively) to be eschewed."
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Shifting Confidence in Homeownership: The Great Recession
By adding questions to the Michigan Survey of Consumers in 2011, the authors of the study looked at attitudes toward homeownership by demographic characteristic and zip code to determine whether residents of areas most affected by the bursting of the housing bubble are more wary of homeownership than those who live in areas less affected. Two important findings emerge from the study: only those personally affected by the housing crash (or who knew someone who was) have doubts about the financial soundness of buying a home--and only if they are younger than age 58.
Why did the housing crash freak out younger generations more than older adults? Because younger adults, suggest the authors, can imagine a paradigm shift occurring in the housing market. "In terms of the striking age differential," the authors note, "one possibility is that relatively younger respondents were indeed more malleable in terms of their outlook, and hence they internalized the sharp drop in housing prices as a regime change. In the new perceived regime, housing is a risky investment and thus (relatively) to be eschewed."
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Shifting Confidence in Homeownership: The Great Recession
Soda vs. Coffee
Young adults are more likely to drink soda than coffee on an average day. According to a Gallup survey, the 56 percent majority of people aged 18 to 34 drink at least one soda on an average day versus a smaller 44 percent who drink at least one cup of coffee.
Among Americans aged 35 or older, only 42 to 46 percent drink soda on an average day and a much larger 70 to 74 percent drink coffee.
Among Americans aged 35 or older, only 42 to 46 percent drink soda on an average day and a much larger 70 to 74 percent drink coffee.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Accidental Births
More than one-third (37 percent) of babies born to American women are unintended--either the birth was mistimed or not wanted at all, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Since 1982 there has been little change in the percentage of unintended births, which has ranged from 31 to 39 percent of total births. According to the latest data, 63 percent of births are intended, 23 percent are mistimed, and 14 percent are unwanted.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Intended and Unintended Births in the United States: 1982-2006
Since 1982 there has been little change in the percentage of unintended births, which has ranged from 31 to 39 percent of total births. According to the latest data, 63 percent of births are intended, 23 percent are mistimed, and 14 percent are unwanted.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Intended and Unintended Births in the United States: 1982-2006
Trends among Young Adults
How do the lives of today's young adults differ from the lives of their parents (baby boomers) when they were young? The National Center for Education Statistics has answers. A new NCES study examines four cohorts of young adults two years after graduating from high school. The high school graduates of 1972, 1980, 1992, and 2004 were surveyed two years later (in 1974, 1982, 1994, and 2006) about their education, living arrangements, voter participation, and job experience. Note that the most recent data (the status of 2004 high school graduates in 2006) reflect the time period before the start of the Great Recession...
Percentage of young adults currently enrolled in postsecondary courses
1974: 39.6%
1982: 48.5%
1994: 60.2%
2006: 62.3%
Percentage of young adults ever married
1974: 25.9%
1982: 11.6%
1994: 7.5%
2006: 4.0%
Percentage of young adults living with their parents
1974: 39.1%
1982: 49.9%
1994: 51.2%
2006: 45.5%
Percentage of young adults ever voting in an election
1974: 62.3%
1982: 51.1%
1994: 56.1%
2006: 57.5%
Jobs have changed as well. In each cohort, the young adults who did not go to college were asked about their first job. The percentage whose first job was clerical or skilled operative fell from 48 percent to 23 percent between 1974 and 2006. Conversely, the percentage whose first job was in sales or service climbed from 24 to 44 percent during those years.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Trends among Young Adults Over Three Decades, 1974-2006
Percentage of young adults currently enrolled in postsecondary courses
1974: 39.6%
1982: 48.5%
1994: 60.2%
2006: 62.3%
Percentage of young adults ever married
1974: 25.9%
1982: 11.6%
1994: 7.5%
2006: 4.0%
Percentage of young adults living with their parents
1974: 39.1%
1982: 49.9%
1994: 51.2%
2006: 45.5%
Percentage of young adults ever voting in an election
1974: 62.3%
1982: 51.1%
1994: 56.1%
2006: 57.5%
Jobs have changed as well. In each cohort, the young adults who did not go to college were asked about their first job. The percentage whose first job was clerical or skilled operative fell from 48 percent to 23 percent between 1974 and 2006. Conversely, the percentage whose first job was in sales or service climbed from 24 to 44 percent during those years.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Trends among Young Adults Over Three Decades, 1974-2006
Monday, July 23, 2012
Cost of Health Insurance: 2011
Average total health insurance premium per enrolled employee in the private sector, 2011...
Single coverage: $5,222
Employee-plus-one: $10,329
Family coverage: $15,022
Average employee contribution toward health insurance premium in the private sector, 2011...
Single coverage: $1,090
Employee-plus-one: $2,736
Family coverage: $3,962
Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Employer-Sponsored Single, Employee-Plus-One, and Family Health Insurance Coverage in the Private Sector: Selection and Cost, 2011
Single coverage: $5,222
Employee-plus-one: $10,329
Family coverage: $15,022
Average employee contribution toward health insurance premium in the private sector, 2011...
Single coverage: $1,090
Employee-plus-one: $2,736
Family coverage: $3,962
Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Employer-Sponsored Single, Employee-Plus-One, and Family Health Insurance Coverage in the Private Sector: Selection and Cost, 2011
Mental Health of Prisoners
Percentage of prison inmates with mental health problems...
In state prisons: 56%
In federal prisons: 45%
In local jails: 64%
Source: Mental Health, United States, 2010
In state prisons: 56%
In federal prisons: 45%
In local jails: 64%
Source: Mental Health, United States, 2010
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Money for Kids
Ten percent of the federal budget is devoted to the nation's children, including programs such as Medicaid, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, Social Security dependent benefits, and federal spending on education. During the next decade, the Urban Institute projects that the share of the budget devoted to children will drop to 8 percent. Here's how federal spending breaks down in 2011...
41% for elderly and other adult portions of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
20% for defense
10% for children
6% for interest payments on debt
23% for all other government programs
Source: Urban Institute, Kids' Share 2012: Report on Federal Expenditures on Children through 2011
41% for elderly and other adult portions of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
20% for defense
10% for children
6% for interest payments on debt
23% for all other government programs
Source: Urban Institute, Kids' Share 2012: Report on Federal Expenditures on Children through 2011
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Mouth Conditions
Percent distribution of Americans aged 18 or older by how they describe the condition of their mouth and teeth...
Very good: 34%
Good: 42%
Fair: 17%
Poor: 7%
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Oral Health Status and Access to Oral Health Care for U.S. Adults Aged 18-64: National Health Interview Survey, 2008
Very good: 34%
Good: 42%
Fair: 17%
Poor: 7%
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Oral Health Status and Access to Oral Health Care for U.S. Adults Aged 18-64: National Health Interview Survey, 2008
Friday, July 20, 2012
The Problem with Employment-Based Coverage
Percentage of workers in private industry whose employer offers health care benefits...
All workers: 70%
Service workers: 41%
Part-time workers: 24%
Workers in lowest wage decile: 19%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Benefits in the United States -- March 2012
All workers: 70%
Service workers: 41%
Part-time workers: 24%
Workers in lowest wage decile: 19%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Benefits in the United States -- March 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Book Trends
Books sales fell 2.5 percent in 2011 (to $27 billion), Publishers Weekly reports, while unit sales climbed 3.4 percent (to 2.77 billion) as lower-priced e-books gained market share.
Does Walmart Lower House Prices?
That's often the claim when Walmart comes to town. But a National Bureau of Economic Research study of house prices near 159 new Walmart stores finds the opposite effect. House prices increase 2 to 3 percent if within a half mile of the new store and 1 to 2 percent if within 0.5 to 1.0 miles of the new store.
Source: National Bureau of Economic Research, When Walmart Comes to Town: Always Low Housing Prices? Always? Working Paper 1811 ($5)
Source: National Bureau of Economic Research, When Walmart Comes to Town: Always Low Housing Prices? Always? Working Paper 1811 ($5)
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