[PW] Query: Imports to Dallas Forth Worth Metroplex

[Daphne Drewello]

David Geer wrote

> I am a journalist reporting about durable and non-durable consumer import
goods from around the world that end up being purchased and used by people
who live and work in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex area, Texas.
>

According to the synopsis of  "Behind the Numbers: U.S. Trade in the World
Economy" at

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1865&page=46

"America's international economic decisions rest to a large degree on the
information available to policymakers. Yet the quality of international
trade and financial data is in serious doubt. This book reveals how our
systems for collecting and analyzing trade data have fallen behind the
times--and presents recommendations for new approaches to accuracy and
usefulness of these economic data."

>From the book (which can be read in its entirety at the above website)

Recommendation 2-2 As part of the quinquennial surveys, the Census Bureau
should collect data on purchases of imported goods and services. The Bureau
of Economic Analysis should use the data to strengthen its program on the
compilation of the U.S. input-output tables.

  Since the book was written in 1992, perhaps the Cemsus Bureau has begun to
collect
this information.  Other sources of information are given in the book,
though I didn't see
anything that would really help. On the other hand, I didn't look that
carefully either.

Daphne Drewello
Alfred Dickey Library
Jamestown, ND