Special Topics

BEA is expanding its prototype statistics that provide a more complete and nuanced understanding of U.S. exports. Watch for an update and expansion of the statistics known as trade in value added, or TiVA, coming in March.

TiVA data can be used to analyze the mix of domestic value added and imported content, such as raw materials, that contributes to the goods and services exported from the United States. For example, an exported airliner assembled in the state of Washington might incorporate an engine made in Great Britain and tires made in Ohio. And the tire manufacturer in Ohio might have used rubber from China and steel belting from Mexico.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis continually explores the development of new statistics as part of its mission to provide Americans with a timely, accurate, and in-depth understanding of the changing U.S. economy. We’re working on innovations that are leading to expanded data in several areas.

Updated data are now available in BEA’s economic modeling tool used to estimate the impact of new projects or other changes in a region’s economy.

Regional planners, local officials, and investors typically use the Regional Input-Output Modeling System, or RIMS II, to assess how projects such as a new factory or the expansion of a university will ripple through an economy. RIMS II has also been used to estimate the economic impact of natural or man-made disasters, in cases where the basic structure of the local economy remained intact.

Today, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released prototype statistics for personal consumption expenditures, private fixed investment, and net exports of goods for Puerto Rico. These annual statistics cover the time period from 2012 to 2017.

The estimates released today are a major step toward the goal of producing gross domestic product (GDP) statistics for Puerto Rico that are consistent with international guidelines and that are directly comparable to data for other U.S. territories, states, the nation, and many other countries.

New prototype outdoor recreation statistics show state value added, compensation, and employment for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These statistics show that the relative size of the outdoor recreation economy ranged from 5.4 percent of GDP for Hawaii to 1.2 percent for the District of Columbia in 2017.

BEA will release prototype statistics on Sept. 20 showing the role that outdoor recreation – pursuits like bicycling, RVing, and fishing – plays in each state’s economy. This will mark the first time state data are included in BEA’s outdoor recreation statistics.   

An updated set of national outdoor recreation statistics will be released at the same time. Both the national and state data will cover 2012 through 2017.

The digital economy accounted for 6.9 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, or $1.35 trillion, in 2017, according to a new batch of statistics released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. 

How does that compare with traditional U.S. industries? The digital economy ranked just below professional, scientific, and technical services, which accounted for 7.4 percent of GDP, and just above wholesale trade, with a 6.0 percent share. 

Arts and cultural economic activity grew at an inflation-adjusted 2.9 percent in 2016, increasing faster than the nation’s economy overall. For comparison, U.S. gross domestic product, or GDP, rose 1.6 percent that year.

Among state economies, Nevada posted the fastest arts and culture increase at 14.7 percent (not adjusted for inflation). Performing arts promoters and the movie industry led Nevada’s growth. The District of Columbia and all other states except Louisiana also saw increases in nominal value added; Louisiana’s arts and culture economy declined 13.1 percent.

Take a bow, dancers, art teachers, and museum guides: The roles you and others play in the U.S. economy will be in the spotlight March 19.

That’s when the Bureau of Economic Analysis will release its annual statistics on the economic impact of arts and cultural activities. The data will highlight the sector’s contributions to the gross domestic product, or GDP, of the United States, each of the 50 states, and the District of Columbia.