On Feb. 4, President Donald Trump gave his third State of the Union address. He touched on a wide range of issues, from immigration to jobs and unemployment.
Days before the speech, USAFacts released the State of the Union in Numbers, a data-driven, nonpartisan snapshot of the country. It's a comprehensive look at the United States that can supplement what the president said in front of Congress.
For example, on the economy, the president pointed to job growth and a declining unemployment rate.
The State of the Union in Numbers has metrics on major economic issues. Government data shows that:
- Monthly unemployment reached a 50-year low of 3.5% in 2019.
- The economy added 2.1 million jobs in 2019, a 1.4% increase from the total number of jobs at the end of 2018.
The president also stated, "we have unleashed a revolution in American energy," citing increased energy production and a narrowing of the energy trade balance.
When looking at US energy data, a few key trends emerge:
- We are producing more energy than ever, as fossil fuel, nuclear energy, and renewable energy production all increased. Coal production continues to decline, while natural gas production is taking off, particularly since 2017.
- We import 17% more energy than we export. While that doesn't make the United States a net exporter of energy like the president said in his speech, the gap is the smallest it has been in decades.
Curbing unauthorized entries at the US-Mexico border was also a focus in the president's speech. Data on the state of US immigration shows that:
- Border apprehensions more than doubled from 2018 to 2019. But the figures remain below the recent peak in 2000.
- In 2018, immigration officials removed 337,000 people from the US, less than the 2013 peak of 433,000.
From education to crime, the State of the Union in Numbers addresses several national issues using government data. Use it to understand the context behind these topics as they come up—not only in the president's speeches but from other politicians during this election season.
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