Census director Robert Groves says the South and West continued their strong population growth over the last decade. 
 
 The total national count was 308,745,538, representing the slowest growth over the last decade since the Great Depression. 
 
 Groves spoke at a briefing announcing 2010 census results. He says the South had the fastest growth since 2000, at 14.3 percent. The West was close behind at 13.8 percent. 
 
 The Northeast had 3.2 percent growth while the Midwest had 3.9 percent. 
 
 The state with the largest population growth was Nevada with 35.1 percent. Michigan was the only state with a decline, at 0.6 percent. ||||| Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is calling the 2010 census a success, saying it saved more money than expected. 
 
 Locke spoke at a press conference Tuesday to announce the 2010 results. He says the census ended up spending $1.87 billion less than expected, in part because of a strong participation rate. 
 
 That figure is higher than the original $1.6 billion in cost savings announced in August. 
 
 Locke credited strong management that overcame government auditors' warnings that the census could be wasteful and inefficient. 
 
 About 74 percent of U.S. households mailed back their 10-question form, matching the rate in 2000.
– Drumroll, please: The final tally is in, and the total US population is 308,745,538, the 2010 census finds. The South’s population has grown the fastest in the US since 2000, at 14.3%; the West was the runner-up, growing 13.8%. But overall, the population has expanded at its slowest since the Great Depression, the AP reports. The Northeast grew 3.2% and the Midwest grew 3.9%. Every state but Michigan (whose population declined 0.6%) saw growth, with Nevada expanding the fastest at 35.1%. The census was successful, the commerce secretary said at a press conference—and it came in almost $1.9 billion under budget, thanks to high participation and good management. Some 74% of households responded to questionnaires, about the same rate as in 2000.