Letters from the U.S. Census Bureau are beginning to land in mailboxes and mailrooms of businesses as the collection of data for almost 4 million business locations begins as part of the 2017 Economic Census. The Economic Census is the most comprehensive business survey in the United States. Conducted every five years, it is a cornerstone of many Census Bureau and other federal statistical...

The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released version 1.1 of its popular Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, more widely known as the Cybersecurity Framework. “Cybersecurity is critical for national and economic security,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The voluntary NIST Cybersecurity Framework should be...

We are reminded almost daily of the importance of Commerce’s data for our nation’s people, businesses, and economy. NOAA’s satellite and weather data are helping individual Americans and businesses plan future activity. Survey data disseminated by the U.S. Census Bureau are empowering businesses and communities to make evidence-based decisions. BEA’s economic indicators, which include the GDP...

The U.S. Census Bureau is proud to announce a new collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and their mobile application, FRED – making it easier for data users to access our statistics anytime and on any device. Web applications, which present information in visually appealing and interactive ways, are a great way to serve the needs of many customers. Web and mobile apps not only...

The Material Measurement Lab at the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) makes certified reference materials for steel composition, hardness, and toughness that help producers control quality and performance aspects during manufacturing, and give buyers confidence that products meet their specifications.

April 8-14 marks this year’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, when we take time to appreciate and thank the dedicated professionals who staff the thousands of 911 centers throughout the nation. These devoted public servants work quietly on the front lines of emergencies, serving as “the first of our first responders.”

Through the use of NOAA’s Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®), super-sized ships coming through the recently expanded Panama Canal can now more safely and efficiently enter the Miami seaport. In addition to the improved vessel safety, past NOAA studies have shown that a PORTS system, like the one dedicated by NOAA and PortMiami officials today, can provide considerable economic...

Ed. note: This post is part of the Spotlight on Commerce series highlighting the contributions of Department of Commerce employees during Women’s History Month. Guest blog post by Judith Mitrani-Reiser, Director of the Disaster and Failures Studies Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology I was always drawn to numbers. When I got to college, I knew I wanted to study engineering, but...