This section introduces basic industry sources that provide composite or aggregate statistics.  Composite statistics are those which reflect an entire industry and not just one specific company.   For example, if you are interested in the production of golf clubs, some composite statistics would be:

Another important statistical concept is that of industry operating and financial ratios.  Click here for an explanation of ratios and a list of sources containing industry ratios.

Three major groups of statistical sources will be covered in this section:

Check your library's online catalog for statistical reports on a single industry.


Composite Statistics - Directories and Services
Dun's Census of American Business.  Dun's Marketing Services.  Annual.
Useful for learning more about the make-up of the American business and industrial marketplace. Displays the compilation of the numbers of establishments in each line of business and groups them according to sales volume and number of employees.  This is done for three geographic levels: national, state and county.
CRB Commodity Year Book.  Commodity Research Bureau.  Annual.
A concise guide for historical analysis and industry profiles for 100 different commodities ranging from arsenic to zinc.  Most of the products are agricultural or mineral commodities, but steel, lumber, paper, plastics and other products are also included.
Standard and Poor's Statistical Service.  Loose-leaf.
Provides current and historical statistics for the following areas:  banking and finance; building and building materials; energy, electric power and fuels; metals; transportation; textiles; chemicals;  paper; agricultural products.

Refer also to the sources listed in Industry Profiles.

Trade Associations

Trade associations often serve as clearinghouses for industry data.  An example of a trade association is the American Iron and Steel Institute or the Aerospace Industries Association.  Trade associations may publish almanacs, yearbooks, or journals containing statistics about a specific industry.

To find appropriate trade associations look in the following directories.

      Encyclopedia of Associations (annual)
         Provides a comprehensive list of more than 22,000 national and international organizations.
         Available online via OhioLINK as Associations Unlimited.
Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources
Arranged by subject.  Each industry has a section entitled "Trade Associations and Professional Societies." Pay close attention to the statistical sources listed.
 

Web Sites

        IndustryLink
          Directory of links to industry web sites organized into twenty major industry categories.
          Excellent source for locating trade association sites.
U.S. Corporate Information - Sector Specific Sites
Wide range of sites for 33 industries.
Using a web search engine, try searching by an association name. (For hints about evaluating web sites, see Searching the Web for Company Information. 
Trade Association Publications

Begin by searching your library's online catalog as well as the OhioLINK central catalog to find trade association publications.  Use the association name as an author.  Also search by key word(s).   Hint:  Use information found in the Encyclopedia of Associations, or the Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources,  such as a specific journal name.

OhioLINK resources
Trade journals published by associations may be indexed in several of the OhioLINK research databases  for Business and Law.  (OhioLINK databases are restricted to authorized users)  Suggested databases:

  (For hints on using Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe,  consult the Lexis-Nexis Tutorial written by Lisa Lowe, KSU)

Return to top of page

   U.S. Government

The federal government collects and publishes a tremendous amount of statistical information.    Find out if your library is a Federal Depository by checking the convenient list of Ohio Depository Libraries prepared by Coleen Parmer, Documents Librarian at Bowling Green State University.  Pay a visit to your library's documents section and get acquainted with the resources available.

Finding U.S. Government Statistics

Start with the most basic compilation of government statistics, the Statistical Abstract.

Statistical Abstract of the United States.  Annual.  U.S. Dept. of Commerce
Published since 1878, the Statistical Abstract is a convenient reference volume as well as a valuable guide to other statistical publications.  Section 31, "Industrial Outlook", (p.863 in the 1997 edition) presents industry trends for selected manufacturing groups.  Check your industry's name or a particular product in the index to find other statistics located throughout the volume.

Statistical Abstract (online)
Hint:  If you're a beginning researcher, it is a good idea to look first at the print version of  Statistical Abstract.  Searching the web version is easier if you understand how the Abstract is organized.

CIS Statistical Universe (via OhioLINK)
This powerful database indexes federal, state, and international documents as well as privately published sources.

American Statistics Index
ASI is a very valuable research tool for locating federal statistics as it indexes actual graphs and tables published in government documents.  Begin by looking up your industry or product in the index volume.  The index volume will refer you to a number in the abstract volume, where you will find titles of specific government publications.  Check your library's online catalog for the publication, or ask for assistance from a documents or reference librarian.

Federal Government Statistical Web Sites

Government-sponsored web sites are abundant and relatively easy to use.  The Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, is the largest publisher of comprehensive business and industry statistics. The Census Bureau web page is one of the most frequently accessed web sites on the internet. Fortunately, it is quite easy to navigate.

Census Bureau   Note:  Census Bureau publications are issued in a variety of formats.  Your library may have them in print or CD-ROM, as well as on the web.  Ask for assistance from a documents or reference librarian.

Comprehensive Web Sites for Government Statistics

There are many federal agencies that produce statistics valuable to the business researcher.  Fortunately, there are a number of comprehensive web sites that help organize and index the massive amounts of information available.

To locate the web site for a particular department or agency such as the Small Business Administration, or the Internal Revenue Service, consult one of the convenient directories of governmental department and agency homepages.

Suggested lists:

Browse Business Topics
This portion of the Government Printing Office Pathway Services arranges government Internet sites by topic.

Frequently Used Sites Related to U.S. Federal Government Information - Business
Prepared by the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) of the American Library Association, this represents an excellent collection of government agency sites arranged by subject.

Statistical Sites

 Stat-USA/Internet (Password may be required.  Check with your library.)
A service of the U.S. Department of Commerce

FedStats
Statistics collected and published by more than 70 federal agencies.  Search by key words or phrases.  A very powerful and useful database as you don't have to know what agency published the information.

Statistical Resources on the Web - Business and Industry
The University of Michigan's Documents Department maintains an extensive listing of statistical sites.

         April 27, 1999
 Return to Industry Statistics | Industry Research | Industry Structure | Industry Current Developments
 Main | Site Map