Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Perhaps the most important data on the U.S. economy is found here:
the National Income and Products Account (NIPA): GDP and its
components, personal income, and corporate profits. There is both
current and historical NIPA data -- quarterly from 1946, and
annual from 1929. They also offer extensive international data
(Balance of Payments, Exports and Imports, Investment Position,
U.S. Direct Investment Abroad, and Foreign Direct Investment in the
United States) from recent years in a variety of formats. Data
can be retrieved for specific times and frequencies.
On the regional side, it offers Gross State Product (GSP), State
Personal Income (some annual data from as far back as 1929, with
more recent quarterly data), Local Area Personal and Per Capita
Personal Income, and Employment and Income Projections. Finally,
it offers gross product by Industry and Tangible Wealth. Users
can easily retrieve selected portions of this data.
In terms of reports, it offers the BEA monthly journal, "Survey of
Current Business," which frequently explains recent data, changes
in survey methods, and the like. This journal is offered online,
free of charge. Finally, it offers extensive documentation on
the methodologies of the Bureau of Economic Analysis and guides to
their data, as well as information about themselves.
http://www.bea.gov/
