US Census Bureau releases first mobile app
updated 08:06 pm EDT, Sat August 11, 2012
App to provide constantly updated economic statistics
The US Census Bureau has released its first ever mobile application. Dubbed America's Economy (Mobile, Tablet, Google Play), the app will provide constantly updated statistics on the US economy, including economic indicators, trends, and a schedule of upcoming announcements The new service forms part of the Census Bureau's efforts for data openness, following the government's Digital Strategy project.
Initially, 16 key economic indicators will be made available to view, including Advance Monthly Retail Sales, International Trade, Homeownership Rate, GDP, and the Unemployment rate. Users can opt to receive notifications when indicators are updated, as well as to share any news on Facebook or Twitter from within the app. Only Android versions of the app will be available, but an iOS version will reportedly be out within a few weeks.
Executive order 13571 in May demanded that government agencies improve their digital services within a 12-month roadmap. An API launched last month by the bureau alongside the mobile apps meets the goals set in the Digital Strategy order, which started after President Obama bemoaned the Government services being “not optimized for smartphones or tablets, assuming the services are even available online." [via Engadget]
