Guest Post: A Day in the Life with Federal Government Data

Today, we have the fourth post in the series from Claire McKay Bowen and Aaron R. Williams to help diverse audiences understand and support the federal statistical system. Everyone living in the United States is part of this vast statistical ecosystem and benefits from it—both directly and indirectly.

Check out their first post in the series on the uses of public data from reducing lead exposure in consumer products to improving agricultural productivity. Their third post discusses the state of labor statistics during the 2025 US Government shutdown, and the difficulty that presents for policymakers.

Government data shape and improve our lives from the moment we wake up until the moment we go to sleep. Here’s a quick look at how these data improve my everyday routine:

5:00 AM – My morning alarm sounds off at the right time thanks to time zone and daylight-saving time information from the Department of Transportation and Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

5:05 AM – I check the weather on Wunderground, which relies on Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS) managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

5:15 AM – My morning run options —like open spaces and trails —are available from federal agencies, such as the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Environmental Protection Agency. These data help determine and maintain areas for parks, trails, and other community spaces that support physical activity.

6:15 AM – I cook some eggs and toast for breakfast. The carton of eggs’ journey from farm to fridge is shaped by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports on bird flu and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports on egg markets. Fortunately, the price of eggs is much cheaper than when it peaked in February 2025.

6:45 AM – Before work, I have a medical appointment. Local governments often use federal data to plan the location of hospitals, fire stations, and other essential institutions to best deliver services to their residents. This information includes opportunity zone data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, flood risk data from Federal Emergency Management Agency, and highway traffic data from the Department of Transportation.

7:00 AM – To get to the appointment, should I take public transportation, drive, walk, or bike? No matter the mode, transportation availability and safety depend on data-informed decisions. From identifying high-risk intersections to planning bike lanes and crosswalks, these decisions are supported by data from local, state, and federal sources, including the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Once I decide my mode of transportation, I use Google Maps that relies on U.S. Census Bureau data to ensure the quickest and safest path to the clinic.

8:30 AM – I arrive at my work, which has sufficient energy to keep the lights on and HVAC running. The Energy Information Administration collects and reports energy consumption for commercial buildings, residential areas, and more.

12:00 PM – I take my lunch break and walk to an area with food trucks. If someone wanted to track the growth of the food truck industry (or other businesses), they could consult data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

12:30 PM – On my way back to work, I stop by an ATM to withdraw cash. Banks and other financial institutions use data from the U.S. Census Bureau to determine branch locations based on demographic trends. They also rely on detailed income statistics, such as median household income and income distribution at specific geographic levels, to comply with fair lending and anti-discrimination regulations and reporting requirements; demographic data help assess access and compliance.

2:00 PM – I receive a notification about my medical appointment. The quality of care and the services I receive are impacted by the National Center for Health Statistics, which uses hospital data nationwide to support quality assessment, resource use analysis, public health emergency response, substance use monitoring, and integration with other data sources to strengthen the public health system.

5:00 PM – I end my workday and message family members. During our conversation, my parents mentioned they recently claimed Social Security. The exact value of their first check, expected in February, is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which is produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

6:30 PM – I later attend a concert at a local community event. Travel and tourism data from the Bureaus of Transportation Statistics, Economic Analysis, and Labor Statistics help communities understand how such events impact the local economy, transportation needs, and public services.

8:30 PM – After attending the event, I want to share our experience on social media. Most people in the U.S. use social media, which depends on reliable broadband access. Federal Communications Commission reports and evaluates data on the coverage across the country.

9:30 PM – I head to bed knowing the importance of getting enough sleep. According to the CDC, one in three adults doesn’t get sufficient rest. This data helps raise public awareness about the critical role sleep plays in maintaining health and quality of life.

Outside of our daily routines, we can imagine several other ways federal data and statistics impact major life-changing decisions.

• Anyone considering buying a home with a mortgage can check online to see today’s mortgage rates, which depend on data about the 10-year Treasury note and yield curves, inflation, and economic growth.
• Active-duty military members may qualify as Military Overseas Voters. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission collects and reports data on voter participation and location to ensure that resources are available for service members to vote while stationed abroad.
• Anyone exploring college or trade school can use the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System from the National Center for Education Statistics. The data provide detailed information on colleges, universities, and technical and vocational institutions—including admissions, tuition, financial aid, and more—making it easier to evaluate and compare opportunities.
• Police departments use data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics to better understand crime trends across the nation. This information helps determine whether local patterns mirror broader national trends or are unique to their communities.
• Investments across the country are shaped by tax policy. Governors can designate census tracts as opportunity zones if they have poverty rates of at least 20 percent or median family incomes of no more than 80 percent of statewide or metropolitan-area family median income according to Census Bureau data.
• For people considering starting a family or looking for child welfare support programs, the Administration for Children and Families has data on child care, Head Start programs, family violence prevention and services, and other initiatives that support growing families.

These are just a few of the millions of ways people touch federal data every day. As with our first blog, we hope this piece and others in the series help raise awareness about the critical role federal data play in our daily lives. The next time you hear about federal data and statistics mentioned in conversation, you will better understand how they shape data-informed public policy that benefits our communities and our nation.