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28Jun 2011

The Fourth of July 2011: 311.7 million estimated population in USA

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June 28, 2011, WASHINGTON, (Coal Geology)– On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

2.5 million
In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation.
Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970 <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html>

311.7 million
The nation’s estimated population on this July Fourth.
Source: Population clock <http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html>

Flags
$3.2 million
In 2010, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags. The vast majority of this amount

($2.8 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.
Source:  Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/> <http://www.usatradeonline.gov>

$486,026
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2010. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $256,407 worth.
Source:  Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/> <http://www.usatradeonline.gov>

$302.7 million
Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation’s manufacturers, according to the latest published economic census data.
Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 3149998231 <http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/>

Fireworks

$190.7 million
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2010, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($197.3 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $37.0 million in 2010, with Japan purchasing more than any other country ($6.3 million).
Source:  Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www>

<http://www.usatradeonline.gov>

$231.8 million
The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks and pyrotechnics (including flares, igniters, etc.) in 2007.
Source: 2007 Economic Census, Series EC0731SP1, Products and Services Code 325998J108 <http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/>

Patriotic-Sounding Place Names

Thirty-one places have “liberty” in their names. The most populous one as of April 1, 2010, is Liberty, Mo. (29,149). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

Thirty-five places have “eagle” in their names. The most populous one is Eagle Pass, Texas (26,248).

Eleven places have “independence” in their names. The most populous one is Independence, Mo. (116,830)

Nine places have “freedom” in their names. The most populous one is New Freedom, Pa. (4,464)

One place with “patriot” in the name. Patriot, Ind. (209)

Five places have “America” in their names. The most populous is American Fork, Utah (26,263).

Source:  American FactFinder <www.census.gov>

Early Presidential Last Names
138
Ranking of the frequency of the surname of our first president, George Washington, among all last names tabulated in the 2000 Census. Other early presidential names that appear on the list, along with their ranking, were Adams (39), Jefferson (594), Madison (1,209) and Monroe (567).
Source: Census 2000 Genealogy <http://www.census.gov/genealogy/www/freqnames2k.html>

The British are Coming!

$98.3 billion
Dollar value of trade last year between the United States and the United Kingdom, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-leading trading partner today.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/top/top1012yr.html#total> <http://www.usatradeonline.gov>

Fourth of July Cookouts

More than 1 in 4
The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. The Hawkeye State was home to 19.0 million hogs and pigs on March 1, 2011. This estimate represents more than one-fourth of the nation’s estimated total. North Carolina (8.6 million) and Minnesota (7.6 million) were also homes to large numbers of pigs.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/HogsPigs/HogsPigs-03-25-2011.pdf>

6.8 billion pounds
Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2010. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for about one-sixth of the nation’s total production. And if the beef did not come from Texas, it very well may have come from Nebraska (4.6 billion pounds) or Kansas (4.1 billion pounds).
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/MeatAnimPr/MeatAnimPr-04-28-2011.pdf>

6
Number of states in which the value of broiler chicken production was $1 billion or greater between December 2009 and November 2010. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
<http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/PoulProdVa/PoulProdVa-04-28-2011.pdf>

Over 1 in 3
The odds that your side dish of baked beans originated from North Dakota, which produced 36 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2010.  Another popular Fourth of July side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California, Georgia, Washington and New York together accounted for 68 percent of the fresh market sweet corn produced nationally in 2010.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProdSu/CropProdSu-01-12-2011_new_format.pdf> and <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-01-27-2011.pdf>

Please Pass the Potato
Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at Fourth of July barbecues. Approximately half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington state in 2010.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProdSu/CropProdSu-01-12-2011_new_format.pdf>

More than three-fourths
Amount of the nation’s head lettuce production in 2010 that came from California. This lettuce may end up in your salad or on your burger.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-01-27-2011.pdf>

7 in 10
The chances that the fresh tomatoes in your salad came from Florida or California, which combined accounted for 71 percent of U.S. fresh market tomato production last year.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-01-27-2011.pdf>

Florida
The state that led the nation in watermelon production last year (750 million pounds). Other leading producers of this popular fruit included California, Georgia and Texas, each had an estimate of more than 600 million pounds.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service <http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-01-27-2011_new_format.pdf>

81 million
Number of Americans who said they have taken part in a barbecue during the previous year. It’s probably safe to assume a lot of these events took place on Independence Day.
Source: Mediamark Research & Intelligence, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2011 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>, Table 1239

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series:

African-American History Month (February) Labor Day
Super Bowl Grandparents Day
Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
Women’s History Month (March) Unmarried and Single Americans Week
Irish-American Heritage Month (March) Halloween (Oct. 31)
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November)
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
Older Americans Month (May) Thanksgiving Day
Cinco de Mayo (May 5) The Holiday Season (December)
Mother’s Day
Hurricane Season Begins (June 1)
Father’s Day
The Fourth of July (July 4)
Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)
Back to School (August)

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

Web Site: http://www.census.gov

25May 2011

Bill Gates Calls on United States, Global Leaders to Invest in Agriculture in the Developing World

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May 25, 2011, WASHINGTON, (Coal Geology) – Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, told a group of political, business, and development leaders that supporting farming families in developing countries is critical to overcoming poverty and hunger.

“I came here today to join those calling on the U.S. and other countries to fund agricultural development for poor farming families,” Gates said. “The U.S. has a pivotal role to play.”

Gates spoke at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security, where leaders discussed how U.S. public and private sector support for agricultural development can advance global security, stability, and economic prosperity. He was joined by U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Rajiv Shah, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, World Food Program Executive Director Josette Sheeran, and others.

Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) introduced Gates, praising the foundation’s efforts to alleviate poverty and improve global health.

In his first major address on agriculture to high-level members of the Obama administration and U.S. Congress, Gates noted that three-quarters of the world’s poorest people rely on small plots of land for their food and income. Helping these small farmers grow and sell more so they can become self-sufficient is the most effective way to reduce hunger and poverty, he said, giving examples of progress already happening in Africa and South Asia.

Today, there are nearly a billion hungry people in the world. In 2008, food prices jumped to record levels, causing riots, hunger, instability, and a plunge back into poverty for millions. Early this year, food prices spiked again, even higher than the peak of three years ago.

But Gates argued that sweeping change is already underway. He praised U.S. leadership for helping to secure $22 billion in commitments to food security that were announced at the G8 and G20 meetings in 2009. While only about half of these pledges have been disbursed or are on track to be disbursed, Gates noted the commitment of President Obama and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to spend $3.5 billion over three years through the Feed the Future program. He also lauded Congress for including $100 million in the budget for the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program. He noted that France has put food security and agriculture at the top of the G20 agenda this year.

“We have a big budget deficit, and foreign assistance is always an easy target. So we need to tell people over and over why this spending is worth it—even in tight economic times,” Gates said.

Gates said farming is a business that helps poor farmers build self-sufficiency and improve their lives. He explained how the foundation and its partners are focusing their efforts on helping farmers get better seeds, healthier soils, and access to markets, as well as supporting better data and policies.

“In country after country, these approaches have improved the livelihoods of small farmers while reducing poverty and increasing economic growth,” noted Gates. “It’s proving the point again and again: helping poor farming families grow more crops and get them to market is the world’s single most powerful lever for reducing poverty and hunger.”

Gates cited examples of foundation-funded projects that are yielding promising results:

  • The World Food Program’s Purchase for Progress (P4P) project is helping small farmers, particularly women, gain access to reliable markets and the opportunity to sell their surplus at competitive prices. Since its start less than three years ago, P4P has paid out an estimated $37 million to small farmers and traders.
  • A project by the International Rice Research Institute is developing new high-yield varieties of rice that are more tolerant to floods, drought, and other environmental stresses. By the end of 2010, 400,000 farmers had planted a new variety of rice that can survive up to 20 days after being submerged. By the end of 2011, the project is expected to reach 20 million farmers. The new rice varieties will prevent crop loss, reduce hunger, and boost the income of farming families.

At the symposium, the Chicago Council released the first Annual Progress Report on U.S. Leadership in Agricultural Development, which tracks fulfillment of U.S. government food security policy development, implementation, and resourcing.

To date, the Gates Foundation has committed $1.7 billion to agricultural development. The foundation takes a comprehensive approach to supporting small farmers so progress against hunger and poverty is sustainable for the economy and the environment.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. Learn more at www.gatesfoundation.org or join the conversation at or visit us at Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr.

CONTACT:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
+1-206-709-3400
media@gatesfoundation.org

SOURCE Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Web Site: http://www.gatesfoundation.org

13Apr 2011

Thirty-three million Americans are expected to celebrate the Easter holiday

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April 13, 2011, WASHINGTON, (Coal Geology) – Thirty-three million Americans are expected to celebrate the Easter holiday by dining out, according to new research from the National Restaurant Association. Lunch and dinner are the most popular meals for Easter celebrations, and when it comes to must-have food, more than half of consumers say they will be looking for an Easter buffet on April 24.

“Buffets will be popular options for Easter diners this year, as they provide a variety of food options to fit anyone’s dietary needs and preferences,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the National Restaurant Association. “Restaurants planning their Easter menus should consider both traditional offerings, including baked ham and deviled eggs, as well as new twists on those dishes, such as ethnic flavors and health-conscious versions, to appeal to today’s increasingly sophisticated diner.”

Overall, 14 percent of adults said they plan to celebrate the holiday with a special meal at a restaurant. Forty-six percent of those are planning a special Easter lunch at a restaurant, while 44 percent will enjoy a meal at dinner time. In addition, 29 percent of individuals visiting a restaurant for an Easter meal are planning to dine out for brunch, while 21 percent said they are going out for breakfast. Seventeen percent are planning to have more than one meal at a restaurant on Easter Sunday.

The survey also asked if consumers are looking for any “must-have” food items for their Easter meal at a restaurant.  Fifty-one percent of those dining out for Easter this year said their must-have option is a buffet; 39 percent said they have to have ham, 37 percent said pastries are on their list of must-haves, and 27 percent said eggs. Lamb was less popular among the list of must-have food items at 7 percent.

When it comes to factors involved in choosing a restaurant on Easter Sunday, diners are most likely to choose their favorite restaurant, regardless of Easter specials, for their special holiday meal (48 percent). Sixteen percent of Easter diners said they would choose a restaurant with holiday specials or menu items, while 13 percent said they would choose a restaurant that they haven’t been to before.

Food and activities for children were the deciding factor for nearly one out of five Easter diners.  Fourteen percent said they would likely choose a restaurant with Easter-related activities for kids, such as egg painting or egg hunting.  Meanwhile, four percent of Easter diners said their most important factor in choosing a restaurant for their Easter meal was a restaurant with great kids’ menu options.

The National Restaurant Association surveyed 1,000 American adults April 7-10 about their plans for Easter 2011. The estimate of 33 million Americans dining out this Easter is based on economic analysis and projections, as well as research conducted over the last two decades.

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 960,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of nearly 13 million employees. Together with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to lead America’s restaurant industry into a new era of prosperity, prominence, and participation, enhancing the quality of life for all we serve. For more information, visit our Web site at www.restaurant.org.

SOURCE National Restaurant Association

CONTACT: Annika Stensson of the National Restaurant Association, +1-202-973-3677, astensson@restaurant.org

Web Site: http://www.restaurant.org/

12Apr 2011

UK Still Lags Behind Other Markets as Government Approval Ratings Fall

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April 12, 2011, LONDON, (Coal Geology) -Escalating global inflation is the biggest challenge to businesses struggling to recover from the economic downturn, according to the latest Global Economic Conditions survey of finance professionals by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

The survey of more than 2,300 accountants in March 2011, the largest ever undertaken by ACCA, shows that for the first time more than half (51%) reported problems with rising operating costs, making this the most commonly cited business challenge. Only 31% had reported rising costs as being a problem when the question was asked in Q4 2010.

While they reported that there were still businesses opportunities, these increased costs made it more difficult for accountants to spot opportunities for growth or cost-cutting for the businesses they advise.

Report author Manos Schizas, senior policy adviser with ACCA, said: “The huge rise in inflation has been the most worrying development to emerge from our latest survey. More than half of respondents reported problems with rising operating costs, which will hinder their ability to look for new opportunities at the time when businesses desperately need to fill the order books.

“The number of finance professionals worried about inflation will also be a concern to governments that have put in place a range of measures to control rising prices. These measures were designed to ensure that businesses do not fail because they cannot afford the raw materials or expertise,” he said.

Responses suggest that, the global economic recovery picked up speed again in early 2011 after briefly going into reverse at the end of 2010 – but that conditions remain fragile.

Accountants reported that both demand for goods and services and cash flow conditions have continued to improve around the world. While this has generally led to a more stable outlook for employment and investment in developed countries, accountants in the developing world reported slightly less investment in staff and more layoffs than last quarter as businesses come to terms with the weaker-than-expected recovery.

In the developing world, members saw an opportunity in exports; relying mostly on strong supply chain relationships, investments in quality, and innovation. Accountants in developed markets, however, reported fewer opportunities in all of these areas compared to previous quarters -while still anticipating a rise in new orders for their businesses.

With the global economic recovery still far from assured and Europe still in the throes of a financial crisis, members were asked how they thought government spending in their countries would change in the mid-term.

Although western countries were still expected to embrace austerity, respondents around the world agreed that their Governments were more likely to increase spending in order to support the recovery.

Overall, members around the world feel that fiscal policy is now more of a balancing act than before, especially in fast-growing markets where rising inflation has reduced the number of options available to policymakers. Almost one in six respondents expect their government to get spending dangerously wrong over the next five years.

The view from the UK

The UK continued to lag behind ACCA’s other major markets, with nearly a third of respondents saying things are ‘getting worse’ – the highest figure in two years. Accountants in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that remained resilient throughout 2010 now appear to be losing confidence. Their colleagues in the public sector are also feeling more pessimistic now than in the depths of the recession.

The coalition government’s previously high approval ratings among members are now falling.

Access to finance has deteriorated again after reaching the lowest levels previously on record in Q3 2010. However, as this has yet to translate to tighter cashflow conditions, the outlook for employment and investment has been fairly stable. That said, demand appears to be under pressure and expectations of new orders are down.

Notes to Editors

1) ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. We aim to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

2) We support our 140,000 members and 404,000 students in 170 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. We work through a network of over 80 offices and centres and more than 8,000 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development. Through our public interest remit, we promote appropriate regulation of accounting and conduct relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.

3) Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. We believe that accountants bring value to economies in all stages of development and seek to develop capacity in the profession and encourage the adoption of global standards. Our values are aligned to the needs of employers in all sectors and we ensure that through our qualifications, we prepare accountants for business. We seek to open up the profession to people of all backgrounds and remove artificial barriers, innovating our qualifications and delivery to meet the diverse needs of trainee professionals and their employers.

For further information, please contact:

Laura Strong, ACCA Newsroom
+44(0)20-7462-8921
lstrong@ruderfinn.co.uk

Source: ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)

For further information, please contact: Laura Strong, ACCA Newsroom, +44(0)20-7462-8921, lstrong@ruderfinn.co.uk
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