Background: National data

Want to know how your state compares to others on lots of different measurements? Check out the new "national data book."

The 2010 Statistical Abstract, produced by the Census Bureau, is now online and it's packed with information on everything from commuting times to crime. "The stat abstract is often the place to start a story because it substitutes evidence for speculation," writes columnist Robert Samuelson.

Considering today's economic slump, America may seem a land where progress has died. Not so. The stat abstract offers many counterexamples.

You can search the abstract for specific numbers or browse it by section. There's data on states, metropolitan areas, counties and cities. It's incredibly useful for putting stories in context. Give it a try!

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