InfoGuides: Economics: Understand Industries

Industry Research Resources

These databases provide extensive industry reports, and are a great place to start your industry research.

IBISworld
Industry Market Research And Industry Risk Ratings in 6 categories: US Industry Reports (NAICS), US Specialized Industry Reports, Global Industry Reports, US Risk Ratings Reports, US Risk iExpert Summaries, and US Business Environment Profiles

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Statista
Great source for industry reports and brand information, as well as statistics
Mintel Oxygen
Provides reports for the top 14 US business-to-consumer categories and tracks consumer attitudes and behaviors. Each report covers market sizing and segmentation as well as consumer attitudes and trends.
NetAdvantage- Standard and Poor
Comprehensive source of business, industry, and investment information. Includes data and analysis of industries, companies, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, indexes, and current news.
1) Use the drop-down menus to access the Industry Surveys or Sub-Industry Review publications
2) If you need to learn about the industry in which a particular company operates, you can retrieve the appropriate Industry Survey or Sub-Industry Review by using the "Search by Company" tool and entering a ticker symbol or company name
Business Source Complete
To locate Industry Profiles:
1) Select Publication Type in the right column on screen
2) Select Industry Profile in the drop down box
Mergent WebReports
excellent source for Industry Profiles and Company Reports

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GMID- Global Market Information Database (Euromonitor)
Marketing data and reports on industries, companies, markets, and consumers from over 200 countries. GMID includes statistics on consumer lifestyles, retailing, consumer market sizes and forecasts; market research such as analysis reports, market profiles, and the retailing industry; and companies’ profiles with financial and brand information. Data can be sorted and downloaded into Excel.
Industry Analysis - Manufacturing and Services
From the Manufacturing and Services (MAS) unit of the International Trade Administration (ITA). MAS industry experts and economists perform strategic research and analysis in order to shape and implement trade policy, create conditions that encourage innovation, lower the cost of doing business, and promote U.S. economic growth.
Economist Intelligence Unit Market Indicators and Forecasts
A database of economic, demographic, consumption and industry data on 60 major countries worldwide and 11 regional aggregates, stretching back to 1990.The product includes detailed economic and industry forecasts for the next five years and longer-term economic projections.
Key Business Ratios
Key Business Ratios on the Web (KBR) provides online access to competitive benchmarking data. This tool lets researchers examine industry benchmarks compiled from Dun & Bradstreet’s database of public and private companies, featuring 14 key business ratios (users choose a one-year or three-year set of ratios) for public and private companies in 800 lines of business.
First Resarch- Hoover's Industry
offers industry research reports covering over 900 industry segments, including in-depth international industry information.
[Dun & Bradstreet]
ABI/ Inform Complete
The ABI/INFORM Complete database features full-text journals, dissertations, working papers, key business and economics periodicals such as the Economist, country-and industry-focused reports, and downloadable data.
[ProQuest]

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SBRNet
Features market research & industry news from 1993 to present, covering many facets of the sports industry (sporting goods, equipment sales, participation, facilities, broadcasting, sponsorship & marketing.)
Gartner, Inc.
** NOTE: The license limits access to CURRENT MASON STUDENTS, FACULTY & STAFF ONLY (both in Library and off campus). ** News and in-depth analysis on virtually all aspects of technology, including security solutions, storage, infrastructure support, mobile and wireless communications, IT management, network services, and regulatory compliance.
Faulkner Advisory for Information Technology Studies (FAITS)
Reports on computer and communications technologies.

Current Industrial Reports
US Census Bureau provides monthly, quarterly, and annual measures of industrial activity.
Industries at a Glance
US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) "snapshots" of national data obtained from different BLS surveys and programs. Many programs also produce additional industry detail, including state and regional data. The data shown are based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) supersector, sector, and industry level.

International Statistical Agencies (this link is under construction)
U.S. Census Bureau collection.

Service Annual Survey
US Census Bureau.
EIU Country Information
Industry Analysis - Manufacturing & Services
From the Manufacturing and Services (MAS) unit of the International Trade Administration (ITA). MAS industry experts and economists perform strategic research and analysis in order to shape and implement trade policy, create conditions that encourage innovation, lower the cost of doing business, and promote U.S. economic growth.

Sources for Ratios:

Factiva
1) Click the Companies & Markets tab and then search for a company.
2) Click “Reports” and choose the “Ratio Comparison Report” to get a company’s ratios compared to industry averages.
Mergent Online
Use advanced search for companies with the same SIC or NAICS code and create a comparison report. There are a number of different ratios that can be used as comparison criteria when creating this user-defined report. The report that is created can be exported into a Microsoft Excel format. You can also use the Competitors Tab in Mergent to build a list of companies and compare ratios.
NetAdvantage (S&P)
S&P NetAdvantage has some company and industry ratios in two different sections of the database. You can find some ratios in the Compustat Excel Analytics section of a company’s information page, as well as in the data from the S&P Industry Surveys.
Key Business Ratios
Key Business Ratios on the Web (KBR) provides online access to competitive benchmarking data. This tool lets researchers examine industry benchmarks compiled from Dun & Bradstreet’s database of public and private companies, featuring 14 key business ratios (users choose a one-year or three-year set of ratios) for public and private companies in 800 lines of business.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.

NAICS was developed under the auspices of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and adopted in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system.

Here's a helpful site from the Census Bureau- North American Industry Classification System: FAQ. The page answers frequently asked questions about NAICS codes, provides a NAICS code look-up search feature, and an email contact for further questions and help with identifying codes.

These are useful resources:

Encyclopedia of American Industries

International Directory of Company Histories

IndustryWeek 1000 is IW's exclusive annual ranking of the world's 1000 largest public manufacturers, based on revenue. It also includes Industry 1000 lists back to 1999.

2013

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2015

2016 (coming soon)