Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Data Feed: Online news engagement, rebounding retail sales, firmer Obamacare support

A daily roundup of fresh data from scholars, governments, think tanks, pollsters and other social science researchers.

Politics Americans cite jobs, economy, government as top problems, Gallup Americans slightly more upbeat about country’s direction, Gallup Americans don’t believe Christie on bridge jam, Clinton on Benghazi, Bloomberg Clinton up in Iowa as Christie’s support falls, Quinnipiac History suggests McConnell is not as vulnerable as he seems, New York Times The midterm x-factor? President Obama, Washington Post

Economy U.S. retail sales rebounded in February, up 0.3%, Census Bureau America’s most and least unequal metro areas, The Atlantic Cities As desktops decline, mobile search is boosting Google’s revenue, The Wall Street Journal Who pays as America greys? The surprising changes in federal spending, The Economist Which companies have the most money parked overseas, out of IRS reach? Bloomberg Lower costs for healthcare, medical goods largely driving drop in core inflation, Bloomberg The rise and fall of U.S. labor force participation, St. Louis Fed

Health & Society 64% of Americans support Obamacare as is or with small changes, Bloomberg Healthcare.gov gets 40% jump in traffic after Funny or Die video, CNN How Western states are implementing healthcare reform, Rockefeller Institute at SUNY Direct visitors more engaged with news websites, Pew Research Center Pope Francis maintains high marks on one-year anniversary, The Wall Street Journal New data on R&D spending at U.S. colleges and universities, National Science Foundation Upbeat online messages far more likely than negative ones to affect others’ moods, WSJ

International Few experts predicted Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, TRIP/Foreign Policy OECD unemployment rate stable at 7.6% in January, OECD Greek unemployment, already highest in Europe, rose to 27.5% in 4Q2013, AP Reportedly low levels of genetically modified crops in trade data raises questions, FAO

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