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Resources:  Reference |  Statistics | News articles | Forecasts | Ratios

Statistical Resources
Quick stat sources | Comprehensive sources | Time series sources

A small gem: TableBase
If you only have time to try one resource, this database should be it.  It is a source for tabular information culled from many types of sources, including newspaper and magazine articles, but also statistical publications of trade associations and non-profits, newsletters, and some financial analyst reports. Its wonderful indexing allows complex and precise searches. Although its coverage is best for the US, there is some international data.

Quick statistics: US

• Business Statistics of the United States (Raynor Ref HC 101 .A13122) Recent and historical data on both the US economy as a whole, and on major industry groups (arranged by SIC).  Mostly federal government sources.
• Market Share Reporter (Raynor Ref HF 5410 .M35) Compilation of US market share data tidbits from periodical literature, organized by SIC.
  Available online through Business & Company Resource Center; from this linked page, you'll need to use the "Revise Search" function (upper left) to narrow the results.
• Mergent's Industry Review (Raynor Ref HG 4961 .M68) All stats.
• Standard & Poor's Statistical Service (Raynor Ref HG 4915 .S68a)
• Statistical Abstract of the United States (Raynor Ref HA 202 .S76) This general source also has lots of business and industry data.

Quick statistics: International

• TableBase This database is a wonderful source for tabular information culled from many types of sources. Although it has more full-text for US data, it is still a good resource for international data.
• UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics, from the UN (Raynor Ref HF 1016 .U54a)
• World Market Share Reporter (Raynor Ref HD 2757.15 .W67) Organized by SIC code, global market share data culled from periodical literature.
  Available online through Business & Company Resource Center.

More comprehensive sources:
The following sources are only a sample of the many that exist.

• Articles from newspapers and magazines:  articles are a major source for individual statistical facts.  Click here to see the listing for article databases.
• Annual Survey of Manufactures: survey statistics for American manufacturing only for industry groups and industries.
• CRB Commodity Year Book (Raynor Ref  HF 1041 .C56 )  Comprehensive appraisal of trends in worldwide supply and demand, prices, and trading for 100+ basic commodites, mostly agricultural and mineral.
• Current Industrial Reports: manufacturing profiles (Raynor Ref HD 9724 .C87 1997) Here are data on production and/or shipments of a variety of different products. Produced primarily by the US Census Bureau.
• Economic Census: conducted every five years, this is the most comprehensive look at American industry.
• Industrial Commodity Statistics Yearbook, from the UN (Raynor Ref HC 10 .I59). Compilation of statistics on world industry in two parts: data on production of about 530 commodities by geographic area; and data by country on consumption of over 230 industrial commodities. 
• International Trade Statistics Yearbook (UN; Raynor Ref HF 91 .U473). Trade (imports and exports) by country and by commodity. Organized by SITC codes.
• International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics (UN; Raynor Ref HC 10 .H34). Country production by ISIC code.
• Standard & Poor's Statistical Service (Raynor Ref HG 4915 .S68a) In two parts, Current and Basic (i.e. historical; usually 20 years' minimum), lists econonmic indicators, hourly earning by major industry group and production figures for most industries.

Time series data:   What IS a time series, first of all?!
A time series is a set of data, all for one particular variable, measured through time. For example, monthly data on unemployment in the US is a time series. Time series are commonly used for econometric analyses. 
The time interval of the data, or periodicity, can vary: monthly, quarterly, annual, etc. The interval is determined by the collectors and publishers of the data, and may not be exactly what you want. Here are some subscription (fee for service) databases to try:

• Compustat Research Insight (from Standard & Poor's). This is a cd-rom database available in the library and the Straz Hall computer lab only. It is a corporate finance database. Click here for more information.
• Global Insight (formerly called DRI Basic Economics.) This database requires a client software package, and is only available in the Libraries and in the Straz Hall computer lab.  It is a database of economic, financial, and demographic time series data, drawn primarily from federal government agencies. Click here for more information.
• Global Market Information Database (from Euromonitor).  A database of market research on countries, markets and companies. In the Country Data module there are annual time series for many countries. Since the data are annual only and go back to 1977 at the furthest, this database will be of limited use if you need longer time series. 
• International Financial Statistics (from the IMF; also in print at Raynor Mem Per HG 3881 .I626). A standard source of international statistics on all aspects of international and domestic finance.  Click here for more information.
• Main Economic Indicators (from the OECD; also in print at Raynor Mem Per HC 10 .O68). Provides economic indicator data for the 30 OECD-member countries (click here for list), plus some data for some additional non-member countries.

Resources:  Reference |  Statistics | News articles | Forecasts | Ratios