Tutorial Industry | Kenan-Flagler Research Tools and Library Resources

Industry Information Resources

There is potentially a wide variety of information available on industries. For example:

News stories and academic articles about the industry
NAICS and SIC and other Industry Identifying information
Lists of companies in an industry
Industry averages for financial measurements and performance ratios
Market size in units or monetary value
Market share
News stories and academic articles about the industry
Descriptions of where the industry has been
Forecasts for where the industry is going
Description of how the industry is segmented
Description of what forces are driving the industry

The key to how much information is available is how you define the industry. This is where the industry classification codes described above come in handy. The more narrowly you define the industry the less likely you are to find lots of information without resorting to the purchase of a specially prepared report that will cost thousands of dollars.

BCC Research

BCC Research provides global market research reports. Reports are typically very detailed and cover market intelligence, five-year forecasting, statistical and analytical data, key players, market share, industry structure and dynamics, and technology trends and shifts. These reports can be well over 100 pages long. Industries covered include:

Bizminer

Provides detailed industry analysis and market research reports on more than 5,000 lines of business (NAICS codes) in national and local markets. Types of reports include:

Industry Financial Profiles: average 15 pages and include aggregate industry wide and segmented by sales volume financial statement data and more than 30 industry financial ratios.
Market Research Reports average 10 pages and includes business and market trends, failure rates, sales per employee, and more for both U.S. national level and local level for 250 metro areas.

GlobalData (includes Product Launch Analytics)

More than just a new name, new data is included such as company, consumer, product, market and country specific “Insight” and analysis for consumer packaged goods. The former Product Launch Analytics database contains Information on new consumer packaged goods with more than one million new skus for new foods, beverages, health & beauty aids, household, pet and tobacco products from around the world. More than 20 searchable data fields per report help you track launches by brand and product name, manufacturer, product category, health claim, flavor, ingredient and more. Mixing and matching these characteristics creates thousands of search possibilities. View full color product photos, run statistical reports, scan breakthrough innovations and hyperlink to manufacturer websites.

Special Note:

All users must register using a UNC email address.

IBISWorld Industry Reports

IBISWorld covers more than 700 U.S. industries, as defined by 5-digit NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes. Each 30-40 page report covers industry conditions and performance, key sensitivities and success factors, segmentation, size, trends, and outlook. UNC also has access to the Specialized, Niche, and Emerging Industry Report collection with 575+ reports, the Global Industry reports with collection 70+ Reports, and the China Industry Reports collection with 200+ reports. Each IBISWorld report is updated every 4 to 6 months.

Mintel Academic

Provides full-text market and consumer research reports. Users must create an account with their UNC email address and agree to their restrictions but this database is quite good for consumer product industry reports for the United States and the United Kingdom. Most of the reports cover market drivers, market share, size, structure, segmentation, trends, consumer expenditure and spending patterns, psychographics, forecasts, and company and brand profiles. Some of the reports include Simmons and ACNielsen data.

Special Notes:

Users must agree to the Mintel Academic Conditions of Use before entering the database.
Users must also create an account profile click on “create profile” using their UNC or Kenan-Flagler email address.
You are only required to enter your name and email (not class etc).
Please be sure to “sign out” of your profile when finished.

Euromonitor Passport

A great source for analysis and statistics on industries, markets, and countries from Euromonitor, GMID contains historical data starting in 1995 and 5 years of forecasts of market size (units and value) data for 330 consumer products in 52 countries. More than 1 million historical and forecast economic, demographic and marketing statistics from 1977 to 2016. Historic and forecasts of consumer lifestyle statistics including disposable income, consumer expenditure trends, eating and drinking habits, home ownership statistics and health data for 71 countries. Key political and economic indicators for 205 countries. More than 4,500 industry and market reports on global and country levels.

Special Note:

You will be asked for your UNC Onyen and Password to use this database both on and off campus.

SBRnet (Sports Business Research Network)

SMA provides market research and industry news for the sporting goods and sports marketing industries, covering 40 different sports. It includes full-text articles, links to over 10,000 sports organizations, sport participation summaries for the American population, and a Brand Share Index, which details brand preferences and demographics of followers of different sports and individual teams. (Source: Davis Library website)

Statista

Statista includes information on indusstries and products from more than 10,000 business and public information sources including trade organizations, scientific publications, and government sources covering more than 600 industries. Statista includes more than 3,000 market studies; and 1,000 industry reports from Statista’s own analysts.

SimplyAnalytics

A web-based mapping application that enables users to quickly and easily create professional-quality thematic maps and reports using extensive demographic, business and marketing data. Data is provided by several sources including the U.S. Census, Mediamark Research. EASI Analytics.

Special Note:

To save searches users must create a workspace with a @unc.edu email address.

Simmons Insights

Data on adult U.S. consumers includes attitudes and behaviors, media use, and buying habits. Covers a wide variety of products, brands and services. Data includes consumer demographics (age, gender, income, etc.); consumer psychographics (behavior, attitudes); and buying and media habits. Create reports for marketing strategies, advertising choices, and other business decisions.

U.S. Census Bureau – Business & Economy

Produces several data sets that are useful for statistics on industries and the economy as a whole including:

Economic Census

Conducted every five years (years ending in -2 and -7), the Economic Census provides detailed geographical breakdowns and more detailed data, including: number of establishments in an industry, number of employees in an industry, payroll in an industry, total sales in an industry sales by type of product in each NAICS code other specialized data for each industry.

County, Metro, and Zip Code Business Patterns

An annual series that provides subnational data by country, zip code, or MSA. Data includes the total number of establishments, the number of establishments by size ranges as well as employment and the first quarter and annual payroll. Organized by NAICS code.

data.census.gov

In July 2019, data.census.gov became the primary way to access Census Bureau data, including upcoming releases from the 2018 American Community Survey, 2017 Economic Census, 2020 Census and more. As of July 1, 2019, all new data (previously released on American FactFinder) is being released on this new data platform. This resource provides data from most US Census Bureau surveys and programs. Access data from the American Community Survey, the Decennial Census, the Economic Census, annual Population Estimates, and annual economic surveys

The U.S. Census Bureau has many other data sets and surveys available including: Annual Survey of Manufacturers, Service Annual Survey, and Annual Retail Trade Survey. See their survey explorer for a full list.

U. S Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Labor, compiles a massive amounts of information and statistics on employment, productivity, inflation, consumer spending, wages, earnings aspects of the U.S. economy, including:

Industries at a Glance

Employment and productivity overviews of more than 100 industry sectors and subsectors.

Consumer Expenditure Survey

The Survey collects data on the “buying habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit (families and single consumers) characteristics.” The tables on the homepage provide the most detailed data.

Industry, Trade, and Professional Associations

Industry, Trade and Professional Associations are a highly recommended source of information. However some associations will only give information and statistics to their members. There is no way to know without contacting them. One way to find them is to use your favorite search engine and add the term “association” to an industry name.

Another possible source for associations is ThomasNet

Most recent update on October 11, 2023.