The U.S. Department of Education presents the first edition of what will be an ongoing series of collected statistical charts and graphs providing a long-term and comprehensive perspective on the well-being of youth. The longitudinal data, which begins in 1950, when possible, is presented with a minimum of interpretation. The report is organized into five major sections. The first, "Demographics and Family Composition," provides basic information about how many young people there are, and what kinds of families and households they live in. "Family Income" is the topic of the second section, which includes data on family finances, public and private economic support, and some of the costs associated with raising and educating young people. The third section is on "Education," and offers statistics concerning the number, achievement, and effort of young people moving through, and dropping out of, United States schools. "Youth Employment and Finances" is the focus of the fourth section, which gives information on employment patterns and earning and spending habits of young people. The fifth section deals with "Health, Behavior, and Attitudes" by bringing together direct measures of the welfare of youth--in particular, their health, positive and negative behavior, and attitudes about what is important in their lives. A glossary, list of sources of data, list of tables and figures, and an index are appended. Appended is a copy of the U.S. Department of Education News Release, Dated August 22, 1988, announcing this new publication, and including some reviewer comments. (SKC)