Freight Facts and Figures 2008
Table 1-1. Economic and Social Characteristics of the United States: 1980-2006
Freight transportation has grown over time with the expansion of population and economic activity within the United States and with the increasing interdependence of economies across the globe. The U.S. population grew by 30 percent between 1980 and 2006 while the economy, measured by GDP, more than doubled in real terms. Other indicators of economic growth such as employment and household income have also risen by 45 percent and 17 percent respectively. Foreign trade grew faster than the overall economy, quadrupling in real value between 1980 and 2006, reflecting unprecedented global interconnectivity.
Table in Excel format | Historical data
 |
1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2006 | Percent change, 1980 to 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident population (thousands) | (R) 226,546 | (R) 248,791 | (R) 281,425 | (R) 296,507 | 299,398 | 32.2 |
| Households (thousands) | 80,776 | 93,347 | 104,705 | (R) 113,343 | 114,384 | 41.6 |
| Median household income ($2000) | 35,057 | 38,257 | 41,990 | (R) 40,864 | 41,168 | 17.4 |
| Civilian labor force (thousands) | 106,940 | 125,840 | 142,583 | 149,320 | 151,428 | 41.6 |
| Employed1 (thousands) | 99,303 | 118,793 | 136,891 | 141,730 | 144,427 | 45.4 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (percent) | NA | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.5 | NA |
| Mining | NA | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | NA |
| Construction | NA | 6.9 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 8.1 | NA |
| Manufacturing | NA | 16.8 | 14.4 | 11.5 | 11.3 | NA |
| Wholesale and retail trade | NA | 14.7 | 14.6 | 15.1 | 14.8 | NA |
| Transportation and utilities | NA | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.2 | NA |
| Information | NA | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 2.5 | NA |
| Financial activities | NA | 7.1 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 7.3 | NA |
| Professional and business services | NA | 9.4 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 10.3 | NA |
| Education and health services | NA | 17.5 | 19.1 | 20.6 | 20.7 | NA |
| Leisure and hospitality | NA | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.4 | NA |
| Other services | NA | 4.3 | 4.7 | 5 | 4.9 | NA |
| Public administration | NA | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | NA |
| Business establishments (thousands) | NA | 6,176 | 7,070 | 7,500 | 7,601 | NA |
| Governments2 | 281,831 | 385,006 | 487,576 | NA | NA | NA |
| Gross domestic product ($2000 millions) | 5,161,700 | 7,112,500 | 9,817,000 | (R) 11,003,400 | 11,319,400 | 119.3 |
| Foreign trade ($2000 millions) | 631,335 | 1,168,168 | 2,572,000 | 3,013,471 | 3,235,200 | 411.0 |
| Goods (percent) | 74.0 | 71.6 | 78.8 | 79.4 | 79.7 | 450.5 |
| Services (percent) | 26.0 | 28.4 | 21.2 | 20.6 | 20.3 | 298.6 |
Key: NA = not available; R = revised.
1Based on the 2002 Census Industry Classification system. Data for 1990 do not appear in the source doucment; they are estimated using the Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalk from the 1990 Census Industry Classification system to the 2002 Census Industry Classification sytem.
2The value for 1980 is actually 1982, the value for 1990 is actually 1992, and the value for 2000 is actually 2002.
Sources:
Unless otherwise stated all data are from: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007 (Washington, DC: 2006) and earlier editions, available at www.census.gov/compendia/statab/ as of June 20, 2008.
Median household income: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Historical Income Tables, table H-6, available at www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/histinc/h06AR.html as of June 20, 2008.
Business establishments: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, available at www.census.gov/epcd/cbp/view/cbpview.html as of July 1, 2008.
Gross domestic product and foreign trade: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Income and Product Accounts Tables, tables 1.1.5, 1.1.6, 4.2.4, available at www.bea.gov as of June 20, 2008.
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