The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported last week that real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.8 percent in the third quarter of 2024. Growth was in large part due to Americans making and spending more. Consumer spending increased 3.7%, the most since early 2023, thanks to rising incomes. The economy has grown 12.6% under the Biden...

Thank you to the Association of Economists of Puerto Rico for hosting today. I look forward to discussing research opportunities to advance economic measurement and building statistical capacity by leveraging the newly established Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) here in Puerto Rico. People often think of the Department of Commerce as the Department of Business, but we’re much more...

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Announces New Census Bureau Action to Track Child Care Data to Inform and Target Solutions to Child Care Crisis. Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce co-hosted, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a first-of-its-kind National Child Care Innovation Summit. The event brought together hundreds of key public- and private...

Proposed Budget Supports Key Commerce Department Initiatives and Programs to Increase Access to Good Jobs, Strengthen Competitiveness in the 21st Century Today, the Biden-Harris Administration submitted to Congress the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025. Following historic progress made since the President took office—with nearly 15 million jobs created and inflation down two-thirds—President...

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Inflation and Reduction Act (IRA), and the CHIPS and Science Act provide the U.S. Department of Commerce with unprecedented new resources that can be leveraged to advance the mission of creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities. To ensure these programs are delivered as effectively...

As the nation rang in the new year, the U.S. Census Bureau projected the U.S. population will be 335,893,238 at midnight EST, on Jan. 1, 2024. This represents an increase of 1,759,535 (0.53%) from Jan. 1, 2023, and 4,443,957 (1.34%) from Census Day (April 1) 2020. In January 2024, the United States is expected to experience one birth every 9.0 seconds and one death every 9.5 seconds. Meanwhile...

Two years ago, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery . The Department of Commerce answered the call by including Customer Experience (CX) in its Fiscal Year 2022-2026 Strategic Plan . Today, the Department highlights progress made to provide customers with first-rate services that are easy to access, equitable, effective, and...

Today, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves participated in the inaugural meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience. At the event, he highlighted the vital work of Commerce’s Supply Chain Center along with several other key steps the Department is taking to lower costs for American families, strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness, protect U.S. national security, and create...

Eleven years ago today, the United States joined nations around the world in establishing the International Day of the Girl to acknowledge the struggles facing young girls and strengthen their commitment to expanding resources and opportunities to help girls and women succeed and thrive. Today, First Lady Jill Biden hosted an event to honor 15 girls in the U.S. who are leading change by tackling...

The Hispanic American community is deeply rooted in the history of the United States and is an integral part of the rich fabric of our nation. True to our mission of creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity—for all Americans—the Commerce Department works every day to support and invest in the Hispanic business community to create jobs and promote economic growth. As of April 1...