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   Issue 9, Summer/Fall 2007

Industry Sources - General

Overview     Print Resources    
Internet Resources     Associations     Databases     LC Catalog Searches

Library of Congress Standard Disclaimer

Overview

There are various industry specific and general sources for industry information. Included here is a list of some of the sources of a more basic nature or sources with information on multiple industries. Since many trade associations provide some data on their web pages as well as produce print source that many libraries subscribe to, I have also included sources on finding trade associations.

Also, there are many, many directories in print and electronic formats that may of some use in finding those companies that compose the industry. The Business Reference Services Doing Company Research guide lists a few of these in the Directories section. If you are looking for information on how a particular company fares within its industry or how industries compare with each other, sources on peer review listed in the Doing Company Research guide may be helpful.

Although there are too many industries to include specific sources for all of them, the guide does list a few basic sources for some very big/common industries. Also, included are links to guides created by the Library of Congress.

BERA - Business & Economics Research Advisor - A Quarterly Guide to Business & Economics Topics

Issue 9/10: Summer/Fall 2007

Guide to Industry Research

Table of Contents

Introduction
Basic Strategies
Classification Codes
Industry Sources - United States Government
Industry Sources - General
Industry Sources - Historical

Smoke stack of TVA chemical plant, 1942
Image (above):
Smoke stack of TVA chemical plant, 1942.
FSA-OWI Collection
Prints and Photographs Division
Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-fsac-1a35277

It should also be noted that there are a few publishers that focus on certain industries. Platt's is good for oil and gas, Bacon's is good for communications, Kagan is good for all aspects of telecommunications, while Plunkett's publishes information on many different industries. You can find specific titles on the publishers' web pages or by contacting these companies directly. It should be noted that many of the titles are not widely available in libraries because they can be quite expensive. Some of these publishers, Platt's for instance, do publish periodicals that are included in full-text databases. For example, some Platt's publications can be found on the subscription database Factiva.

PRINT RESOURCES

Dun & Bradstreet/Gale Industry Reference Handbooks. . Stacy A. McConnell, editor ; Linda D. Hall. Detroit : Gale, c1998-c1999. 7 volumes.
LC Call Number: HG4907.D86
LC Catalog Record: 00500443
This is a series arranged by industry (entertainment & hospitality; construction & agriculture; chemicals & pharmaceuticals; insurance & health & medical services; computers & software & broadcasting & telecommunication). Within each there are industry overviews, statistics, rankings, association, companies, trade shows, financial norms, directory, and much more.
Encyclopedia of American industries. Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research, c1994 - present.
LC Call Number: HC102 .E53
LC Catalog Record: 2001223283
This data is also available in Thomson Gale's Business & Company Resource Center database.
Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries. Detroit : Gale, c1998-2001.
LC Call Number: HD2324.E528
LC Catalog Record: 98660099
Fairly in-depth industry overviews with charts/graphics. This data is also available in Thomson Gale's Business & Company Resource Center database.
Encyclopedia of Global Industries. Detroit, MI : Gale Research, 1996 - present.
LC Call Number: HD2324.E53
LC Catalog Record: 97661013
Fairly in-depth industry overviews with charts/graphics. This data is also available in Thomson Gale's Business & Company Resource Center database.

Manufacturing & Distribution U.S.A. : Industry Analyses, Statistics, and Leading Companies. Detroit, Mich. : Gale Group, c2000 - present.
LC Call Number: HD9721 .M3495
LC Catalog Record: 00214687

Market Share Reporter. Detroit, MI : Gale Research, c. 1991 - present.
LC Call Number: HF5410.M35
LC Catalog Record: 91649704
This publication is a compilation of top lists of companies and products, which originally appeared in various publications, and articles. It is a companion to the World Market Share Reporter, but focuses on the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This data is also available in Thomson Gale's Business & Company Resource Center database.
Mergent's Industry Review. New York, NY : Mergent FIS, c1999-
LC Call Number: HG4961 .M68
LC Catalog Record: sn 99048772
Mergent's subscription database product Mergent Online also has industry reports that cover the U.S. as well as Asia-Pacific and Europe Access to the database is limited to onsite patrons.
S&P Industry Surveys [New York] Standard & Poor's Corp.
LC Call Number: HC106.6.S74
LC Catalog Record: 77183941
These reports are also on the subscription database S&P NetAdvantage. Access to the database limited to patrons onsite.

U.S. Industry Profiles : USIP : the leading 100. New York : Gale Research, Inc., c1995-c1998.
LC Call Number: HC101 .U1638
LC Catalog Record: 97640658

World Market Share Reporter. New York : Gale Research Inc., c1995-2001.
LC Call Number: HD2757.15.W67
LC Catalog Record: 95660036
This is a publication that is a compilation of top list of companies, products pulled from various publications, articles, etc. It is a companion to Market Share Reporter.

ASSOCIATIONS

United States           International

United States

Encyclopedia of Associations. Detroit, Gale Research Co., 1956 - present.
LC Call Number: AS22 .E5
LC Catalog Record: 76046129
This data is also available in Thomson Gale's Business & Company Resource Center database. Access to the database is limited to onsite patrons.
Encyclopedia of Associations. International Organizations. Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research, c1989 - present.
LC Call Number: AS8 .E53
LC Catalog Record: 89645065
This data is also available in Thomson Gale's Business & Company Resource Center database. Access to the database is limited to onsite patrons.
Encyclopedia of Associations. Regional, State, and Local Organizations. Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., c1987 - present.
LC Call Number: AS22 .E53
LC Catalog Record: 87640488
This data is also available in Thomson Gale's Business & Company Resource Center database. Access to the database is limited to onsite patrons.

Gale Encyclopedia of Business and Professional Associations. Detroit, MI : Gale Research Inc., c1995-
LC Call Number: HD2425 .G34
LC Catalog Record: 95649648

National Trade and Professional Associations of the United States. Washington, DC : Columbia Books, 1989 - present.
LC Call Number: HD2425 .D53
LC Catalog Record: 89659004

State and Regional Associations of the United States. Washington, D.C. : Columbia Books, 1989 - present.
LC Call Number: HD2425 .S68
LC Catalog Record: 89641902

International

Encyclopedia of Associations. International Organizations. Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research, c1989 - present.
LC Call Number: AS8 .E53
LC Catalog Record: 89645065

This data is also available in Thomson Gale's Business & Company Resource Center database. Access to the database is limited to onsite patrons.

International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics. Vienna : United Nations Industrial Development Organization ; Aldershot, England ; Brookfield, Vt., USA : Edward Elgar, 1995 - present.
LC Call Number: HC10 .I673
LC Catalog Record: 95648426
http://www.unido.org/doc/18263

Structural statistics for industry and services = Statistiques de[s] structures de l'industrie et des services. Paris, France : Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, c2001 - present.
LC Call Number: HC10 .I614
LC Catalog Record: 2001242108

INTERNET RESOURCES

United States Industries           International Industries      Guides to Specific Industries


United States Industries

Yahoo! Industry Center
http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/index.html

UK Trade & Investment (UK Dept. of Trade and Industry)
https://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/

Fuld & Company
http://www.fuld.com/Tindex/I3.html

Industry Research Rutgers University Libraries
http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/rr_gateway/research_guides/busi/industry.shtml



International Industries

Enterprise, Industry and Services OECD
http://www.oecd.org/topic/

Statistical Agencies (International)
http://www.census.gov/main/www/stat_int.html

Canadian Industry Statistics
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_ecnmy/sio/homepage.html

UK Industry Statistics
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/onlineproducts/default.asp

Australian Industry Statistics
http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d3310114.nsf/Home/Themes

New Zealand Industry Statistics
http://www.stats.govt.nz/economy/business/businessfinance.htm



Guides to Specific Industries

Automotive
http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/BERA/issue2/issue2_main.html

Nonprofit
http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/guide/guide1/sharp12.html

Service Industries
http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/guide/guide1/sharp4.html

Sports Business
http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/BERA/issue3/issue3_main.html

Oil & Gas
http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/BERA/issue5/issue5_main.html



DATABASES

Many of the full-text subscription databases can be used to search for articles discussing a particular industry. Many of these are available in many university or public libraries for use by patrons and students. Some are very good at subject indexing and some — like Business & Industry and TableBase — also use the SIC/NAICS code systems.

Select the links below to see descriptions of several databases of particular use for industry research. To see a listing of other subscription databases available for users at the Library of Congress, please go to our Databases and E-Resources page. In addition to resources listed on that page under the subject, Business, Economics, and Industry, business researchers may also be interested in resources listed under E-Journals, Books, & Newspapers, and Web Search Tools. Please note that subscription databases described on these pages may only be accessed by patrons on site at the Library of Congress.

Other databases to mention are S&P's NetAdvantage which does have copies of the S&P industry surveys and Mergent Online which has historical copies of the Moody's Manuals but also has industry reports for various industry in North American, Asia Pacific, and Europe. Business & Company Resource Center (Gale) also has Datamonitor reports as well as information from Gale's print titles that cover industry information (see PRINT sources above).

Subjects

Additional works on various industries in the Library of Congress may be identified by searching the Online Catalog under appropriate Library of Congress subject headings. Below is just a sampling of industries. Selecting a subject headings below will link you directly to the Catalog and automatically execute a search for the authorized subject selected. Please be aware that during periods of heavy use you may encounter delays in accessing the catalog. For assistance in locating other subject headings related to this topic, please consult a reference librarian.

Market Surveys    Service industries
Market surveys--United States    Service industries--United States--Statistics--Periodicals
Industries    Information services industry--United States
Industries--United States    Financial services industry--United States
Construction industry--United States    Insurance--United States
Mineral industries--United States    Real estate business--United States
Agricultural industries--United States    Transportation--United States
Manufacturing industries    Public utilities--United States
Manufacturing industries--United States    Manufactures
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   August 21, 2007
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