NOAA ECONOMIC STATISTICS BOOK OFFERS SIMPLE, ACCESSIBLE, VALUABLE INFORMATION
2005 "Economic Statistics for NOAA" Released

May 18, 2005 — NOAA released its latest "Economic Statistics for NOAA" booklet. The small booklet serves as a common reference to the latest economic benefits NOAA products and services provide to the nation's gross domestic product and the environment. It contains a consistent set of statistics helpful to NOAA management, staff and the outside community. (Click NOAA image for larger view of “Economic Statistics for NOAA” book cover. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

New for this fourth edition are statistics on the economic effects of hurricanes, as well as many new statistics for lightning fatalities; snow costs and benefits; catastrophe bonds; fisheries; aquaculture; travel and tourism; remote sensing satellites; coastal ocean observing systems; electric utilities and agriculture. Many outside NOAA have found the booklet to be a valuable resource.

"Making this type of information easily accessible to the public is one method of increasing awareness to the important role that NOAA science and research play in our economy. The statistics show that NOAA's mission and activities are relevant to the nation's economy and public well-being," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "The statistics make a direct connection between the economic effects of various environmental factors and the work done within NOAA."

Statistics are grouped into three general categories: Economic and Social Impacts; Contributions to U.S. Income, Employment and Output; and Coastal Ocean Economics, Population, Employment and Benefits.

Some examples of economic statistics found in this year's booklet include the following.

• The 2004 hurricane season will go down as the most costly season on record in the U.S. Estimated U.S. damage was $42 billion, U.S. deaths total 59, and deaths outside of the U.S. are estimated at over 3,000.
• U.S. consumers ate an estimated 16.3 pounds of seafood per capita in 2003, 0.7 pounds more than in 2002. The United States is the third largest consumer of seafood in the world. Total consumer expenditures for fisheries products are estimated at $61.2 billion.
• Preliminary estimates of the potential economic benefits from new investments in regional coastal ocean observing systems in U.S. waters range from $500 million to $1 billion per year.

The booklet is available in hard copy from the NOAA Office of the Chief Economist, (301) 713-3322 ext. 182 or online.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Economics & Social Science

NOAA Economic Statistics Book (PDF)

Media Contact:
Aja Sae-Kung, NOAA Public Affairs, (202) 482-0702