Sources of Information on Product & Industry Statistics

General Sources

• The U.S. Industry and Trade Outlook and the Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys are useful for basic statistics (production, shipment, sales, revenues) for large industry groups but not for all products. The latest issues are at the Reference Desk.
• Four other titles with industry overviews are Encyclopedia of American Industries, Handbook of North American Industry, U.S. Industry Profiles, and WEFA Industrial Monitor. These are also located at the Reference Desk.

Statistical Sources

• The Predicasts Basebook (ceased 1995) has historical data for products, arranged by SIC number. (Index Table H)
• New data will be arranged by the NAICS: North American Industry Classification System

  There are six books at the Reference Desk worth looking at:

• Agriculture, Mining and Construction USA: Industry Analyses, Statistics, and Leading Companies.
• Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate USA: Industry Analyses, Statistics, and Leading Organizations.
• Manufacturing USA: Industry Analyses, Statistics, and Leading Companies.
• Service Industries USA: Industry Analyses, Statistics, and Leading Organizations.
• Transportation and Public Utilities USA: Industry Analyses, Statistics, and Leading Companies.
• Wholesale and Retail Trade USA: Industry Analyses, Statistics, and Leading Organizations.

  Many of the statistical data sets in the preceding four books are collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Economic Census, conducted every five years, covers retail trade, wholesale trade, service industries, construction industries, manufactures, mineral industries, transportation, communications, utilities, and financial, insurance, and real estate industries. Check at the Reference Desk for the latest volumes, or visit the U.S. Census Bureau Website.

  Other current statistics may also be found at the U.S. Census Bureau website, such as the County Business Patterns.