Economics Research Guide: Product/Service/Industry Analysis
Research Paper: Product/Service Analysis & Industry Analysis
In this library, the best place to start is to search a company in Hoover's Business Profiles under the Find Articles tab above.
- Hoover's provides: the NAICS/SIC code, competitive landscape (competitors), comparative financials, history, etc.
You will find the most information about publicly traded companies. Its is difficult to find a wealth of information about private companies.
Also search Business Source Premier under the Find Articles tab to find current articles about a company, product or service, or industry.
- At the top of the search screen, see Company Profiles.
- In the Advanced Search, use the drop down menu next to the search window to limit the search to a specific company--then add an additional search term if you wish.
The Wall Street Journal covers major industry developments. Search it in Proquest Newspapers under Find Articles - News Databases to find company and industry news.
If you are interested in a specific industry and have not yet identified companies or you need additional industry information, try these online encyclopedias:
- Encyclopedia of American IndustriesProfiles both manufacturing & service industries
Finding Books
Search the catalog under the Find Books tab above.
Possible subject headings:
- industries
- industries -- United States
- industries -- classification
- industries -- directories
- industry statistics
Or search for a specific industry or company:
- pharmaceutical industry
- Apple Computer, Inc.
Industry & Company Sources
The company website should provide the current annual report and more.
- EDGAR (from the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission)Form 10-K is the annual report that U.S. public companies file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)--check the Business Overview Section (Item 1, Part 1., Business) to find the nature of competition in the company's industry
- Industry Information ResourcesSources for industry information, research, and analysis for over 400 industries--listed by SIC code
- Alacra Industry SpotlightsReviews and commentary on the best web-based sources of industry information
- American FactFinderSee under What We Provide: Annual Economic Surveys & Economic Census
Industry Codes
- North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)The standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy"--search by keyword or industry code
- Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) CodeThe Federal government classifies manufacturing and service industries and assigns each a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code number in order to promote the comparability of statistics--search the 1987 version SIC manual by keyword, to access descriptive information for a specific SIC
Products/Services Sources
- Thomas Register of American ManufacturersLists American manufacturers, their major products, and contact information
- How Products Are MadeIncludes manufacturing process, background, how the item works, who invented the product, raw materials used, product applications, by-products that are generated, possible future developments, quality control procedures, etc.