Market Research

Here are some resources that will help you research market size, market share and customers.

Databases available through the Orradre Library website

Go to American FactFinder (U.S. Census Bureau)

The Census Bureau conducts many important censuses and surveys. The most well-known is the official population census of the United States, called the Decennial Census. It is conducted every ten years, most recently in April 2000. During each Decennial census, the Census Bureau collects data from every household in the U.S. and its territories.

Besides the Decennial Census, the Census Bureau conducts nearly one hundred other surveys and censuses every year. By law, no one is permitted to reveal information from these censuses and surveys that could identify any person, household or business. Individual records from each Decennial census are made public 72 years after the census has been taken. In the meantime, the information collected for each census and survey is summarized by geographic area and then published in a variety of formats, including printed reports, CD-ROM, DVD, and on the Internet.

American FactFinder displays the results of a census or survey in the following table and map formats (all formats not available for all programs).

For Decennial, ACS, and Population Estimates results:
- Quick Tables: Show popular information for a single geographic area.
- Geographic Comparison Tables: Compare basic information across multiple geographic areas (for example, all counties in a state).
- Detailed Tables: Show highly specific information at the great level of detail. These tables are the sources for all other tables and for thematic maps.
- Reference Maps: Show boundaries of Census geographies along with orienting features.
- Thematic Maps: Compare basic information across multiple geographic areas in the form of color-coded maps.
For Economic Census results:
- Industry Quick Reports: Show popular economic data for an industry.
- Geography Quick Reports: Show popular economic data for a geographic area.
- Economic Data Sets: Tables providing facts about the structure and functioning of the nation's economy.
- Reference Maps: Show boundaries of geographies along with orienting features.
- Thematic Maps: Compare basic information across multiple geographic areas in the form of color-coded maps.
You can view information on many different topics for many types of geographic areas including: the United States, counties, cities and towns, congressional districts, American Indian Reservations, census tracts and blocks, and much more.
Decennial Census

The Decennial Census collects data every 10 years about households, income, education, homeownership, and more for the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island areas. The data is used for apportionment of the seats in the House of Representatives.

The American Community Survey (ACS)

The American Community Survey is a new approach for collecting accurate, timely information needed for critical government functions. When the ACS program is fully operational, it will collect information from three million households every year.

The Economic Census

The Economic Census profiles the U.S. economy every 5 years, from the national to the local level. In 2002, Economic Census forms were mailed to more than five million businesses.

Population Estimates Program

The Population Estimates Program publishes estimated population totals for the previous year for cities and towns, metropolitan areas, counties, and states. For selected geographies, estimates are available by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.

Population Projections Program

The Population Projections Program projects the future resident population for the nation and for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The data are available by age, sex, and race/ethnicity through the year 2100.

Census of Governments

The Census of Governments works to provide periodic and comprehensive statistics about governments and governmental activities. It covers government organization, finance, and employment.

Other Surveys

Information about demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics of the United States population, as well as business, industry and trade data, can be found in several other surveys.
A comprehensive list of surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau is available at http://www.census.gov/main/www/surveys.html.
Go to Business Reference Suite

Business Reference Suite consists of three databases: Business and Industry, Business Management Practices, and TableBase.
1. Business & Industry is a broad-based business information database that focuses on facts, figures, events and market information about companies, industries, products and markets. It covers all industries and is international in scope. B&I draws content from over 1000 trade and industry publications, regional, national and international newspapers, business dailies and newsletters. Use B&I when you want to find company, industry, market and product information.
2. Business & Management Practices content focuses on practical approaches to management processes and methods. It provides real-world know-how about business planning, decision making, how businesses adopt and implement new technologies and techniques, and plan for change or expansion. BaMP focuses on real-life applications, case studies, and explicit "how-to" guidelines. BaMP offers highly focused coverage from more than 300 professional and trade journals containing information relevant to the fields of management, planning, production, finance, marketing, information technology and human resources. Use BaMP when you want content that emphasizes the practical side of business and management including case studies and "how-to" guidelines.
3. TableBase is a database comprised of tabular information of a strategic nature. Every record has a unique table title written by RDS staff that aids users in making precise selection of tables that meet their searching needs. Many of the table records also have textual content that supports the data in the tables. The tables provide information such as: market share, market size, capacity, production, imports, exports, sales, product and brand rankings, forecasts, healthcare statistics and demographics. Tables are drawn from the more than 1000 sources that go into the Business & Industry database and from statistical annuals, brokerage reports, trade association reports, and governmental reports. Use TableBase to find tabular information to access strategically oriented business information in tabular format.
Go to Consumer Expenditure Survey

The Consumer Expenditure Survey consists of data obtained in two surveys - the quarterly Interview survey and the Diary survey - that provide information on the buying habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit (families and single consumers) characteristics. Standard tables contain average annual expenditure for specific product categories such as dairy products, cereal, footwear, appliances, healthcare, etc., broken down by various consumer characteristics such as age, education, occupation, etc. Published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Go to InfoTechTrends

Provides market information on computers, peripherals, software, storage, Internet, and communications equipment. Details include sales and shipment forecasts, market share, installed base, planned purchases, and more. Updated biweekly.
Go to Investext Plus

Investext Plus provides full-text reports on the world's major companies, industries and markets from over 500 brokers in North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Focus is on public companies. All company and industry reports are provided in full page PDF image. Updated monthly. 1996 to present.
Go to LexisNexis Statistical

LexisNexis Statistical contain statistics published by the U.S. government, State government agencies, and inter-governmental and private organizations.
Go to World Marketing Data and Statistics

World Marketing Data and Statistics is a huge and unique database of international country data. The database provides access to over 1 million demographic, economic and lifestyle indicators ranging from income and earning potential, to travel and tourism trends, and possession of household goods such as TV's and dishwashers. Data sources include the UN, OECD, IMF, U.S. Census, national statistical offices, and trade and industry associations. Research analysts collate and verify all data. Data dates back 10-23 years.
Go to World Consumer Markets

World Consumer Markets delivers volume and value market size data across 52 countries. All the data is fully comparable across over 350 consumer products and over a six-year time series. Key socio-economic parameters such as population trends and economic indicators are also included, to help place consumer trends in context.

Print Resources available in the Orradre Library Reference Collection

American Marketplace, REF HA 214 .A6: Using U.S. Government data, American Marketplace provides a population profile of the United States in one volume. Its 200+ tables are organized into nine chapters on education, health, housing, income, labor force, living arrangements, population, spending, and wealth. The housing chapter includes data on appliance ownership and energy-use indicators. The chapter on the labor force shows the latest data on child and after-school care arrangements, while the health chapter provides data on chronic conditions, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The publisher's own projections of the population by age, sex, and race to 2010 appear in the chapter on population. Published only every few years, so may not have current data, Orradre Library has from 1997 to the most recent edition.
California Retail Survey, REF HF 5429 .C23: This book provides a comprehensive review of retail sales activity in every city and county in California, and retail sales data broken down in detail for 45 separate retail store categories. Published annually, Orradre Library has from 1996 to the most recent edition.
Commercial Atlas & Marketing Guide, REF G 1019 .R3: As of 2004 this atlas is in its 135th edition! Provides population, economic and geographic data for more than 100,000 places in the U.S. Includes large-scale, detailed maps. Organized in two volumes, volume 1 includes the Economic Data, Population Data and Map sections. The Economic section describes business activity for states, counties, cities, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA's) and Trading Areas. The Population section provides 2000 Census figures and current population estimates for states, counties, MSA's, and certain "Metro Areas," as well as projected population figures for MSA's and counties. The Maps section includes maps of Minor Civil Divisions, as well as maps of the fifty states and the District of Columbia, including detailed insert maps of important cities. Volume 2 includes State Statistics and a State Index that includes reference to the state maps in volume 1. The State Statistics section includes a list of Principal Cities and Towns ranked by population and a Basic Business Data table that includes all the counties in each state. This section provides location information and statistics for virtually all inhabited places in the U.S. Published annually, Orradre Library has the 2004 edition onwards.
Demographics USA County Edition, REF HB 801 .S9: This book contains marketing statistics covering population, race/ethnicity, age/sex groups, household data, effective buying income, retail sales and number of establishments by store groups and merchandise line categories, consumer expenditure data, etc., arranged by geographic areas. Provides "buying power indexes" for each geographic area. Published annually, Orradre Library has from 2002 to most recent edition.
Editor & Publisher Market Guide, REF HF 5905 .E38: This book contains market data for U.S. and Canadian cities with a daily newspaper. Includes figures on population, disposable income, education level, and retail sales for various types of stores, rankings by geographical area, etc. Published annually, Orradre Library has from 2003 to the most recent edition.
Lifestyle Market Analyst, REF HF 5415.33 U6 .L54: This book gives current demographics and lifestyle profiles of U.S. households useful for identifying potential customers and where they live and how they spend their time and money. Published annually, Orradre Library has from 1993 to the most recent edition.
Market Share Reporter, REF HF 5415.2 .M27: This book is a compilation of market share data on companies, products, and services from periodical literature, arranged by SIC (Standard Industry Classification) code. Includes an index of "topics." Data includes: corporate market shares; institutional (non-corporate) shares; brand market shares; product, commodity, service, and facility shares; other shares, for example, subdivisions of governmental expenditures. Covers the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Covers topics that are: large, important, basic (autos, chemicals); very competitive (beer, soft drinks); in the news, and; relate to popular issues. Published annually, Orradre Library has from 1999 to the most recent edition.
U. S. Market Trends & Forecasts, REF HF 5415.1 .U8: This book uses graphic representation to provide an overview and projection for over 400 significant markets, including topics such as market size, market sectors, market share, market history and forecasts. Because it is only published every few years, it is mainly useful as a source of historical data.
World Market Share Reporter, REF HF 5415.2 .W77: This book is a compilation of global market share data from periodical literature covering 270 geographic locations. Coverage is similar to that of Market Share Reporter. Published only every few years, so may not have current data, Orradre Library has from 1995/96 to the most recent edition.

rev AR 04/04