This handbook is an easy-to-use reference book for policymakers, public officials, and policy analysts, as well as anyone else who may need up-to-date information about state economic, demographic, and fiscal data. The book includes data on demographics, poverty rates, per capita state personal income, state and local tax rates, and state and local government revenues and spending programs. Gender and age comparisons are noted in some instances. The book's main section consists of four-page summaries, one for each state, that highlight economic indicators, population and poverty measures, household income distribution percentages, and fiscal data. The second section gives users separate tables and selected maps for making state-by-state summary comparisons on a single item of information. A third section provides detailed notes on data sources. Contains 27 tables of data and 16 maps. (SLD)