Guides/Information on Industries
Theo Haynes, Reference Librarian

• Overview Sources
• General Sources
• Financial Ratio Sources
• Statistics Sources
• Census Statistics

Encyclopedia of American Industries (REF HC102.E53 1994) 

Arranged by SIC, this includes an industry snapshot, organization and structure, background and development, current conditions, industry leaders, work force, America and the world, research and technology, and industry information sources.

Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys (REF HC106.6.S74 on Table 2) 

This gives background information on over 60 major industries, detailed composite statistics, latest developments, trends, earnings prospects, and data on the leading firms in an industry.

U.S. Global Trade Outlook (REF HC101.U54 on Table 1 & on the NESE-DB cd-rom at the Reference Desk; succeeds the U.S. Industrial Outlook at GOV DOC C61.34:yr.) 

"This report provides: projections for economic growth and trade over the next five years; assessments of major industrial and developing country markets for U.S. exports; and analyses of the prospects for major sectors of the economy."

Periodical indexes: 

You can also use these to get an overview of what is happening within an industry, to get a feel for the national and international economy, and to do environmental scanning for events that may affect an industry. A list of relevant periodical indexes in the Robeson Library, with description of their coverage, is LIBRARY GUIDE: PERIODICAL INDEXES FOR BUSINESS.

GENERAL SOURCES

SIC Manual (REF HF1042.S72 1987 on Table 1; in REF stacks; and at GOV DOC REF; the 1972 ed. with its 1977 Suppl. is at REF HF1042.A55)

This is the first source to check when researching an industry or a product. The Standard Industrial Classification Manual assigns a four-digit code to most industries whether in manufacturing or service. This code is standardized and used widely in the business literature listed below.

Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources by James Woy (REF HF5353.E9 at the Reference Desk) 

For most industries, this lists the best publications available by type: abstracts & indexes, almanacs, bibliographies, biographical sources, directories, financial ratios, handbooks, online data bases, periodicals & newsletters, statistics sources, trade & profession associations, and other sources.

Encyclopedia of Associations (REF HS17.G321 at the Reference Desk) 

Because trade associations are often the only detailed source of information on an industry, check this to identify relevant ones and the information they make available.

FINANCIAL RATIO SOURCES

RMA Annual Statement Studies (REF HF5681.B2R6 on Table 2) 

This provides 5-year ratios, as well as the current year's broken down by size of companies. Draws primarily from small company data so only includes industries for which RMA had enough participating companies.

Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios, by Dun & Bradstreet Credit Services (REF HF5681.R25I525 on Table 2)

Covers almost every SIC code, providing operating ratios divided by quartile.

STATISTICS SOURCES

Statistical Abstract of the United States (REF HA202 at the Reference Desk; also on RESERVE and at GOV DOC C3.134) 

Extracts statistics from the Censuses and many other statistical sources. Good for time series too, and it always indicates the source used.

American Statistics Index (GOV DOC REF Z7554.U5A46)

Index to and abstracts of all the statistical publications of the U.S. government.

Statistical Reference Index (REF HA214.A12S7) 

Index to and abstracts of most non-federal statistical publication on the U.S.

Economic Report of the President (REF HC106.5.A272 on Table 1; also in GOV DOC REF; and on the NESE-DB cd-rom at the Reference Desk)

Detailed statistical tables cover income, employment and production industry-wide, with long time series.

Value Line Investment Survey (on RESERVE HF4501.V2)

Reports on over 70 major industries and leading companies within the industry. Provides statistics for current and previous years and forecasts future activity.

Moody's Industry Review (REF HG4961.M68 1994+ on Table 2) 

For each industry, this includes top companies ranked by revenues, income, profit margin, p/e ratio, yield, 12-month and 7-year price scores, with 10 year market trends graph.

Manufacturing USA: Industry Analyses, Statistics, and Leading Companies (REF HD9724.M35 on Table 1) 

For SIC 2011-3999, this pulls together tables on the general statistical characteristics of each industry back ten years, indices of change for that period, selected ratios, leading companies, materials consumed, product share, occupations employed by each industry, and state and regional concentration of the industry. Most of the data has been taken from the U.S. Economic Censuses and Ward's Business Directory.

Service Industries USA: Industry Analyses, Statistics, and Leading Organizations (REF HD9981.4.S47 on Table 1)

For SIC 7011-8999, this provides the same information as described above for Manufacturing USA, but for the service industries. A second part of this volume also has data on service industries in cities and statistical areas.

Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate USA (REF HG181.F55) 

For SIC 6010-1799, this provides the same information as described above in Manufacturing USA, but for the three areas in its title.

CENSUS STATISTICS

Census of Agriculture (GOV DOC C3.31) 

Census of Construction Industries (GOV DOC C3.245) 

Census of Manufacturers (GOV DOC C3.24); 

Census of Retail Trade (GOV DOC C3.255) 

Census of Service Industries (GOV DOC C3.257) 

Census of Transportation (GOV DOC C3.233); Census of 

Wholesale Trade (GOV DOC C3.256)

Begun in 1967, except for the Census of Agriculture which originated the series in 1954, the US Economic Censuses are taken every five years (ending in 2 and 7). They publish statistics by product and industry for the US as a whole, states and SMSAs and some counties. These censuses gives data on number of establishments, sales, employment and production. These are now available on cd-rom (Ask at the Reference Desk) as well as in print.

County Business Patterns (GOV DOC C3.204) 

and on cd-rom at the Reference Desk) In a volume for each state, this gives for each county by SIC code, the number of employees, payroll and establishments for each industry.