Winter 2003 

The New Face of STAT-USA 

I am very pleased to introduce myself as the new Director 

of STAT-USA. Although new to this particular position, I am 

not new to STAT-USA. I am one of the original staff 

members, and over the last nine years, I've held several 

positions within the organization from Operations to 

Marketing to Customer Service. I am very excited to now 

have the opportunity as Director and to share with you my 

vision and goals for STAT-USA. 

Throughout the years, STAT-USA has continued to fill an 

increasingly important role at the U.S. Department of 

Commerce, as we are still the only government agency that 

provides essential Federal government-wide information 

for American businesses and exporters. This is a role I take 

very seriously, as we continue to develop new products as 

well as enhance our existing ones in an effort to better 

serve the general public. 

Our signature service, STAT-USA/Internet, is considered 

America's most extensive Federal site devoted to business, 

trade, and economic information. Our other two online 

services, USA Trade Online and EuroTradeO nline, provide 

complementary information on imports/exports that is not 

as accessible anyplace else. 

We have continued to work hard on providing customers 

with these valuable data through innovative alternative 

methods. With our Syndicate USA service, we proactively 

Learn more about our products and services online! 

New Director of STAT-USA, Dr. Forrest B. Williams 

transmit the files in our database directly to customers' 

computers and ftp sites. For example, some customers 

requested to receive reports such as the Current Industrial 

Reports or the Selected Interest Rates delivered to their 

desktop as soon as they are updated and available. 

STAT-USA has expanded support for our information 

products as in other ways. Customers have consistently told 

us that training enhances the use of our services. With that 

in mind, we have recently upgraded our training for all three 

Web sites, and in conjunction with the Government Printing 

Office, produced a new on-line manual for STATUSA/Internet and USA Trade Online. Training sessions are 

available upon request at our Washington, DC office, and we 

are in the process of launching a new initiative that will 

finally allow for STAT-USA to provide training all over the 

country (see page 3 for more details about the new training 

initiative.) 

We have also taken several steps to provide curriculum 

support to enhance the use of STAT-USA by professors and 

students. We recently published the STAT-USA/Internet 

Companion to International Business, a valuable tool for 

international marketing classes or related courses. However, 

we have not forgotten our obligation to assist American 

businesses. 

Continued on page 3... 
STAT-USA Wants To Hear From You! 

Over the years, STAT-USA has prided itself on exceptional customer service. Customer service is the very backbone of 

what this organization is founded on, and it is our goal to continue to excel in this area. So to that end, STAT-USA wants 

to hear from you. 

We are in the process of conducting focus groups throughout the country over the next few months to hear from you, 

our customers. We want to know the things you love, and even the things you may not love about STAT-USA and its 

products. It's your chance to sit down face to face with STAT-USA representatives and give us a piece of your mind. 

To get things started, STAT-USA has already organized a focus group for the Washington, DC area for May 2nd at our 

headquarters at the U.S. Department of Commerce. If you are interested in attending the Washington, DC focus group 

or a future one, please, send us an email with "FOCUS GROUP" in the subject line to statmail@esa.doc.gov . Make 

sure your email contains the following information: 

Name


Userid


Organization (if applicable)


Daytime Phone Number


City, State


STAT-USA will take the top two locations from responses and set up focus groups there. Notices will be posted on STATUSA/Internet under "What's New?" at http://www.stat-usa.gov with details about the dates and specific times and 

locations. All who inquire will receive email and telephone notification as well. 

Current Industrial Reports on Demand! 

STAT-USA now delivers Current Industrial Reports (CIRs) right to your desktop, and it's faster than ever! The new CIR 

service will allow you, the customer, the ability to choose the specific information you want, how often you want it, and 

how you want it delivered, all for an amount that will appeal to your economic senses! 

What is a CIR? 

A CIR is a survey that measures manufacturing activity in important commodity areas such as textiles and apparel, 

chemicals, primary metals, computer and electronic components, industrial equipment, aerospace equipment, and 

consumer goods, with the primary objective being to provide accurate data on production and shipments of the 

products from each selected area. Conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census since 1904, CIRs are an invaluable tool for 

forecasting, e-policy needs, and market analysis! 

How To Get Them? 

CIRs are updated monthly, quarterly and annually and are categorized by either Subject or by Subsector. STAT-USA offers


flexible packages depending on your business needs.You would then decide if you would like your reports delivered by


cd-rom or FTP. It's up to you!


Wanna Know More?


For more information about the CIR program (including a free price quote), or on how to obtain individual reports via the


internet, contact Dee Atwell at 202-482-2860, or send her an email with "CIR PROGRAM" in the subject line to to


dee.atwell@esa.doc.gov

Wanna Go to the Head of the Class? 

Let STAT-USA Be Your Teacher! 

STAT-USA can now offer training sessions to anyone in the country! For a moderate fee, that covers the cost of travel
 

expenses and materials only, STAT-USA is now equipped to provide training to those who request it.
 

·Package A: One Day Session
 

Covers a basic overview of STAT-USA/Internet and USA Trade Online.The class lasts approximately 4 hours.
 

·Package B: Two Day Session
 

Day one will feature a STAT-USA/Internet workshop complete with exercises, advanced searching techniques, and
 

database exploration. Day two will feature a USA Trade Online workshop complete with exercises, instruction on
 

building complex and detailed reports, with tips on how to incorporate the data into a report.
 

·Package C: Three Day Session
 

Days one and two are identical to Package B. Day three will focus on how to incorporate STAT-USA products into a
 

class environment, and will also provide a special "sneak peek" at EuroTrade Online.
 

All packages will include hard copies of the STAT-USA/Internet Companion Guide and a certificate of training.
 

Additionally, Packages B and C offer all participants a special gift. STAT-USA will still offer free trainings on site in
 

Washington, DC, for groups of 10 or less.
 

If you've already got a group together or are interested in obtaining further information, please email us at
 

statmail@esa.doc.gov or call our offices directly at 202-482-1986 (1-800-STAT-USA).
 

New Face continued from Page 1... 

This year we want to expand our 

outreach to the business community by 

providing our services through new 

venues. Although we have long had a 

number of public libraries as customers, 

we are negotiating with a number of 

trade and business associations so that 

they can provide access to our Web sites 

to their membership. 

At STAT-USA our focus has always been 

on you, the customer. Whether you're a 

single account holder, a site license, or 

part of a large consortium, we value you 

and your opinions. We are actively 

enhancing the opportunities for you to 

provide us feed back through a variety of 

media such as surveys, email, and focus 

groups (see page 2 for details on the focus STAT-USA Staff from left to right: Forrest Williams, Gerry 

Brown, Sarita Moore, Terri Long, Tanya Chen, Dee Atwell, Tahira 

Murphy, Randy Blumenschein, Donna Moore, Bruce Guthrie. groups). 

It is an exciting time at STAT-USA, and I 

look forward to sharing with you all the 

exciting things the future holds for our 

organization. Please feel free to contact 

me directly and let us know how we are 

doing. 

Dr. Williams joined STAT-USA in 1994, after 15 years at the U.S. Bureau of 

the Census. He is a recipient of the U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze 

Medal and in 1991, he was honored by his selection as one of the Federal 

Computer Week Federal 100. He can be reached by phone at 202-482-

3429 or by email at forrest.williams@esa.doc.gov 
Product Updates 

CIA World Factbook - Available in the International Trade Library section of STAT-USA/Internet, this 

valuable tool is filled with with country specific data. 

Quickstart Manual for STAT-USA/Internet and USA Trade Online - STAT-USA and the 

Government Printing Office (GPO) have partnered to provide you with a QuickStart Manual for our two 

most popular online products. The manual is located on the main pages of STAT-USA/Internet 

Got A Suggestion? 

Do you have an idea on how STAT-USA can improve our products and services, but you can't attend 

one of our focus groups? Send an email to statmail@esa.doc.gov with "SUGGESTION" in the 

subject line! 

the Newsletter 

Director of STAT-USA 

Forrest B. Williams 

Editor 

Terri Long 

The Newsletter is a complimentary

publication from STAT-USA

as a service to its customers.

STAT-USA is a division of the U.S.

Commerce Department's Economics

and Statistics Administration.

You can reach STAT-USA by

mail, phone, fax or e-mail

tel: 202-482-1986; 1-800-STAT-USA

fax: 202-482-2164

e-mail: statmail@esa.doc.gov

http://www.stat-usa.gov

STAT-USA

U.S. Department of Commerce

HCHB Room 4885

Washington, D.C. 20230

®