Geoscape Plots the US Population

Information systems provider Geoscape International, Inc. has introduced a new version of its Marketscape dataset which claims to improve on census information about population groups, in particular recent immigrants.

The 'American Marketscape DataStream: 2003 Series' includes over one thousand variables for US population and households from national to zip code level.

The data set is designed to fuel the analyses and plans of marketers attempting to grow their market share among these rapidly growing population segments, and includes current year estimates and 5-year projections for the year 2008 as well as census vintage data for 1990 and 2000.

Geoscape estimates the US Hispanic population at 40.5m, the Asian population at 12.2m, and the Black population at 34.7m as of July 1, 2003 with the total US population at 292.5m and an additional 3.9m in Puerto Rico. The company also reports on various statistics related to language use and preference, country-of-origin, income and socioeconomic status, educational attainment, age, gender, housing and consumer expenditures. The company estimates that Hispanics will spend $80 bn on transportation and housing in 2003 and nearly $70 billion on food and beverages. Nearly 80 percent of the nation's population growth comes from Hispanic, Asian, African American and Eastern European groups.

According to Jeff Vitus, senior demographer for Geoscape, 'We have spent a great deal of time and energy developing data and techniques that permit us to improve the accuracy of the census demographics - such as the challenge of correctly counting recently immigrated populations. The DataStream can be applied to a variety of decision enhancing studies at levels of geography including block group, census tract, ZIP code, county, television market area (DMA), state and nation'.

The company's online intelligence system, GIS, will also be available in updated form in a few weeks. to include the current and forecasted 2003 Series data, permitting marketers and analysts to access and work with data and lists via their web browser, according to George Rebhan, Geoscape Vice President, Technology.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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