USAFacts

Welcome to #JustTheFacts, a new series featuring our founder Steve Ballmer and data directly from the US government. Americans deserve clear, trustworthy facts to make up their minds on today’s most pressing issues. Join Steve as he walks through the data on immigration, the economy, healthcare, and much more to help you inform your perspective. Get the numbers — not rhetoric — ahead of the US elections. Watch our first episodes tomorrow 8/1 on Fox at 9 PM ET/PT and 8PM CT/MT. https://lnkd.in/gDAes94B

What’s the safest way to travel this holiday season?     ✈️ Air travel is the safest form of transportation in the US. Since 2002, injury and death rates have been almost 0 per 100 million miles flown. In 2022, there were 47 passenger injuries across 709 billion miles of air travel — that’s like circling the globe 600,000 times for every single airplane injury.    🏍️ On the other hand, motorcycles are the most dangerous way to travel. Riders faced an injury rate of 339.3 per 100 million miles in 2022 — that’s 6x higher than any other mode of transportation.    🚗 While highway injuries have fallen, fatalities have increased. In 2022, the death rate of cars and trucks was 0.57 per 100 million miles – and increase from 0.49 in 2016. Passenger injury rates dropped from 54 per 100 million miles in 2016 to 42 in 2022.    How are you traveling for the holidays? 

Every American is a stakeholder of this country — but are they getting the returns they deserve?    Our President, Poppy MacDonald, recently joined Nick Halaris to discuss this question and share how we’re providing Americans with clear data to decide for themselves.    🎧 Don’t miss the full conversation — tune in here: https://lnkd.in/gPGbfztn  

Today, the Federal Reserve Board announced its third interest rate cut of 2024, lowering the benchmark rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.25%. As #interest rates shift and influence mortgage rates, the path to #homeownership can change for prospective buyers.    In 2023, nearly 2 in 3 households owned their home, while the rest rented. These rates don't just shift over time — they also vary across states and urban, suburban, and rural communities.     States with the highest homeownership rates:  🏠 West Virginia: 77%  🏠 Delaware: 75.7%  🏠 Maine and Mississippi: 75.5%    States with the lowest homeownership rates:  🏠 Washington, DC: 40.2%  🏠 New York: 53.3%  🏠 California: 55.8%    How do you think today’s Fed decision will impact housing in your area?

As part of our mission to empower Americans with the facts, we advocate for more accessible and useful government data. Our Data Policy and Advocacy Manager, Ben Gitis, joined data experts at the White House to discuss ongoing efforts to improve data and research on gun violence.

🎄 It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and one of the most accident-prone! Each year, about 18,400 people visit the #ER due to accidents involving #Christmas decorations. The busiest day? The Sunday after Thanksgiving, with around 660 cases annually.    The holiday hazards don’t stop there — they continue through New Year's Day, often due to mishaps while taking decorations down.    Kids under 4 make up 10% of these injuries, with many cases involving swallowed ornaments or chewed Christmas Lights.    Meanwhile, adults tend to get hurt decorating (think ladder slips or rooftop tumbles). Stay safe this season! 

Which states visit their local libraries the most (or least?) Wyoming holds the title for top #library visits, with residents averaging 3.82 visits per person in 2022 — the highest in the US! Other top library-goers include: 📕 Washington, DC: 3.78 visits per person 📕 Ohio: 3.41 📕 Kansas: 3.32 On the flip side, the fewest visits per person happened in: 📕 Mississippi: 1.30 📕 West Virginia: 1.21 📕 Hawaii: 0.60

In 2023, federal government transferred $1.1 trillion to state, local, and tribal governments, making up 17.6% of all federal spending. These funds help pay for things like infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Adjusted for inflation, federal transfers dropped 13.6% in 2023. In the last 10 years, transfers to state and local governments have increased by 52%.. In 2023, $634.2 billion (58% of the total transferred) funded Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provide free or low-cost health insurance to eligible individuals.

Get to know #GenZ through data! In our latest episode with Braver Angels, Monica Guzman does a data plunge to learn all about the generation — including voting trends, education access, racial diversity, and more.    What fact about Gen Z surprised you the most?

In September, authorities confiscated 2,200 pounds of fentanyl at US borders — a 31% increase from the previous month. However, year-to-date seizures are 16% lower compared to the first nine months of 2023. Fentanyl made up 95% of opioid seizures in 2023 compared to 32% in 2019, when heroin made up a larger share of seizures. While some fentanyl is seized along the northern border and at coastal/interior ports of entry (think major airports and seaports), the southwest border is the main trafficking route. 88% of fentanyl is seized at official ports of entry along the US-Mexico border.