Census Bureau says response rate on the rise

Commerce Secretary Norman Mineta Tuesday announced the slide in census participation has been reversed. Mineta said 67 percent of U.S. households returned their census forms this year, a slight improvement over the 65 percent return of 1990. "There was real concern that census 2000 would continue in this decline," Mineta said. "I'm proud to say that those worries have been proven wrong." The 1990 figure of 65 percent reflected a 30-year decline in participation. The bureau had anticipated a return rate this year of 61 percent.