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Industry Information: Home

Guide to industry information sources.

Industry Codes and Researching Industries

 

Industry codes (NAICS, SIC) are hierarchic, numeric schemes to define and distinguish one industry from another:

About Industry Classification Codes

NAICS codes 
SIC codes

Look at trade journals, i.e. journals published by industry associations, association websites, industry/investment analysts’ reports, nonprofit and government information sources such as EPA Industry Letters, EIA reports, Economic Census, market research reports, and commercial industry reports.

Industry Analysis/Trends/Forecasts

Statistics

US Census Bureau Economic Survey is a detailed census of US economic activity conducted every 5 years. The latest census was done in 2022, and first summary results for nationwide counts are now available. Select First Look statistics. Detailed geographic  level data will be available in late 2024 into 2025. 

  • Annual surveys of manufacturing, construction, wholesale trade, retail, and many other industries and including quarterly financial report for manufacturing, mining and trade corporations are available. There will be a coordinated survey of all these individual surveys that will begin collecting data in 2024. (Previous survey data available in Census library and other Census data products.)

Federal Statistical Agencies 

Links to principal federal statistics agencies, eg. Census of Agriculture, Health statistics, Crime statistics, etc.

Data.gov - Search across all federal statistical agency datasets.

Statistical Abstracts from 1879-2010 available here.

Links to Statistical Agencies (US agencies, national agencies of other countries, and International)

Industry Financial Ratios

US Census Bureau’s provides composite quarterly ratios for manufacturing, mining, wholesale and service industries. 

RMA Annual Statement StudiesFinancial Ratio Benchmarks. AnnualBased on financial statements submitted to banks, composite financial and operating ratios for mfg., wholesale, retail, service industries. 750+ lines of business are covered. Upper quartile, median and lower quartile values are presented. Explanations of balance sheet and income data, definitions of ratios, and sources of financial information for industries not covered.

Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial RatiosCompiled  from tax returns submitted to the IRS. 190 lines of business covered and 50 performance indicators are covered. Only the industry average is presented, but each line of business has more companies represented than the RMA.  Companies making a profit that year are presented in a separate table.

Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios. Financial and operating ratios for 800 lines of business. Balance sheet and income statement information and 14 financial ratios. More lines of business covered.

Subject Guide

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Hilary Schiraldi
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Business Library
S350 Haas School of Business
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