Industry Sources - General

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.

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

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

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.

This data is also available in Thomson Gale's Business & Company Resource Center database.

Fairly in-depth industry overviews with charts/graphics. This data is also available in Thomson Gale's Business & Company Resource Center database.

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

• Factiva
• ABI/INFORM
• Infotrac One-File (Gale)
• Business & Industry (RDS)
• Business & Company Resource Center (Gale)
• TableBase (Gale)
• Academic Search Premier (EBSCO)

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.