June 2025: Data Points: Do You Know What They Mean?

Federal, state and local government officials use data daily to make decisions that impact their communities. The data comes from various sources, but often it is commonly reported figures from federal agencies. For example, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes monthly job numbers and inflation rates, while the U.S. Census Bureau publishes the poverty rate for the nation, for each state, and for counties and school districts within each state.

Often, these figures are taken at face value. And maybe they should be, as they are often the best available data we have on a particular topic. At the same time, users of this data would be wise to have some knowledge of its strengths and weaknesses. This month’s Research Room explores this topic, using the poverty rate as an example

Read the full June 2025 Research Room here.