Holiday Season Statistics from the US Government

With the holiday season upon us, do you ever stop to wonder how busy the country gets?  Take a look at some of the statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Holiday Season:

Christmas Trees and Decorations


$983 million:
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and September 2011. China was the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped to the United States ($79.7 million worth) during the same period. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/

Where the Toys are ... Made

88:
Number of establishments around the country that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys in 2009. California led the nation with 15 locations.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code 339931, http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html

579:
The number of locations that primarily produced games, toys and children's vehicles in 2009; they employed 7,858 workers. California led the nation with 98 establishments.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code 339932, http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html

$2.5 billion:
The value of U.S. toy imports including stuffed toys (including dolls), puzzles and electric trains from China between January and September 2011. China was the leading country of origin for stuffed toys coming into this country, as well as for a number of other popular holiday gifts. These include roller skates ($24.6 million), sports footwear ($253.8 million) and basketballs ($38.9 million). China leads Thailand as the leading supplier of ice skates ($17.7 million versus $9.8 million), with Canada ranking third ($4.2 million). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/

Hanukkah and Kwanzaa

50%:
Proportion of the nation's spuds produced in Idaho and Washington in 2010. Potato latkes are always a crowd pleaser during Hanukkah.  Source: National Agriculture Statistics Service http://www.nass.usda.gov/
http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/Pota/Pota-09-29-2011.pdf

$1.5 billion:
The value of product shipments of candles in 2009 by the nation's manufacturers. Many of these candles are lit during Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of Manufacturers, NAICS Code 3399995; http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=EAS&_submenuId=&_lang=en&_ts=

New Year's Eve and Day

More than 312 million
The nation's projected population as we ring in the New Year.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.html