‘Wonky Chart’ App Puts Thousands of Facts, Figures at Fingertips

MARIETTA, Ga. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- A new app for iPhone and iPad, developed by Atlanta self-described political junkies David Martin and Jay Hoey, is a valuable tool for those who need trusted data quickly. The Wonky Chart app gives users almost instant access to 3,000-plus easy-to-read charts.

Wonky Chart allows users to call up current and historical facts on taxes, politics, federal spending and revenues, personal and corporate income, comparisons of the U.S. to peer countries on a variety of topics, and synopses of landmark laws and Supreme Court decisions, all displayed as attractive charts that are automatically updated as new data become available. New topics are also added regularly.

Although designed for anyone who follows policy and politics, Martin believes Wonky Chart is especially applicable for journalists needing to quickly check a “fact” thrown out at a news conference, to develop questions for interviews, to research details needed for a story with a looming deadline, or as inspiration for a story or column.

“Cyberspace is awash with data,” Martin said. “The problem is accessing the exact nugget you need in seconds wherever you are. Wonky Chart helps fill that gap. It’s for anyone interested in public affairs and government, but is particularly useful for journalists and commentators.”

Need to know George Soros’ or the Koch brothers’ net worth? What NASA spent in 1965? What the federal deficit was in 2010 in constant and current dollars or as a percentage of GDP? A synopsis of key provisions in the Affordable Care Act? Those facts and thousands more are instantly accessible in Wonky Chart.

All charts are sourced. Data contained in charts are drawn from trusted sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau, Congressional Budget Office, Internal Revenue Service, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Office of Management and Budget, and studies published by leading experts in academia.

“Wonky Chart eliminates the tedium of slogging through mazes of data tables on government and other websites,” Martin said. “Does every fact you’ll ever need reside in Wonky Chart? Of course not, but the ones you want most often are usually there. Wonky Chart is always a great place to start.”