General Statistical Sources

From the US Census Bureau
The 2008 Statistical Abstract
The Statistical Abstract of the United States, published since 1878, is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States.  Earlier editions are available in PDF format – these include Historical Statistics of the United States from Colonial Times to 1970, and Statistical Abstract of the United States from 1878 to 2007.

County and City Data Book
The County and City Data Book is the most comprehensive source of information about the individual counties and cities in the United States; it includes data for all U.S. states, counties, and cities with a population of 25,000 or more.

County Business Patterns
County and State economic profiles, useful for analyzing marketing potential, measuring effectiveness of sales, etc.  Topics covered are agricultural services, transportation, wholesale trade, and more.  Printed publications are in PDF format from 1993-1998.  Check at the REFERENCE DESK for CD-ROM version.

CENSUS - County Population Estimates
2000 through 2003 population estimates and changes for counties; also available are maps and graphs of percent change in population and migration by county.

State Population Estimates
2000 to 2004 state population estimates and demographic changes by selected age groups, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. 

Statistics of U.S. Businesses
Company and establishment level statistics covering agriculture services, forestry, fishing, mining, construction, manufacturing, transportation, communications, public utilities, wholesale trade, retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate, and service industries from 1992 to 2005.

Families and Living Arrangements
Demographic characteristics of households and families are collected annually. Check the American Factfinder for more details on household & family characteristics for states, metropolitan areas, and other geographic details.

U.S. Gazetteer
Identify places to view with the Tiger Map Server. Look for places, counties or MCDs (county subdivisions) by entering the name and state abbreviation (optional), or 5-digit zip code.

County and City Data Books (Univ. of Virginia)
The County and City Data Books provide access to the 1944 through 2000 County and City Data Books; the 2000 Edition is available in PDF format on the Census Bureau website.  

Economic Statistics Briefing Room (The White House)
Access current Federal economic indicators from the White House and link to information produced by other Federal Agencies.

Social Statistics Briefing Room (The White House)
Current statistics on social issues, e.g., crime, demography, education and health.  Also available are links to more information from other Federal Agencies.

FEDSTATS: One-Stop Shopping For Federal Statistics
Easy access to statistics of public interest provided by over 100 US Federal Agencies.

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
The nation's economic accountant.  It prepares estimates of  key national, international, and regional aspects of the US economy.  Current News Releases.

Federal Statistical Agencies
Compilation of all major Federal Statistical Agencies websites.

Statistical Resources on the Web (Univ. of Michigan)
Master index of statistical resources available on the Web.

General Business Sources

Characteristics of Business Owners Survey (US Census Bureau)
Provides the only national data available for comparing selected economic, demographic, and sociological characteristics among minority, women, non minority male, and all business owners and their businesses. RELATED SURVEY: Surveys of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises

Current Industrial Reports (US Census Bureau)
Monthly, quarterly, and annual reports are available by subject title ranging from aerospace industry orders to yam production.

Dismal Scientist
Offers comprehensive and timely economic data and analysis at the metro, state, and international levels.  Also  includes GDP growth and employment reports of several countries.

STAT-USA (US Dept. of Commerce)
Provides vital economic, business, & international trade information produced by the US Government.

Survey of Current Business Online (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
Contains analytic articles and statistical tables on state, regional, and US business and economic conditions from 1994 to 2008.  Articles are available in PDF format and can be located by title or month of publication. Topics discussed are prices, personal income, consumption, exports & imports, and government spending. 

ThomasNet
The largest industrial database of local services and suppliers.  Users may search from over 700,000 companies world-wide for product/service, company & brand name, and view company profiles, street addresses, phone, fax, and Web addresses.

Standard Industrial Classification System Sources

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
The SIC is the statistical classification standard for all establishment-based federal economic statistics classified by industry.  This website allows users to access descriptive information for a specified 4 digit SIC.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
NAICS replaced the SIC system in January 1998.  It is a unique, all-new system for classifying business establishments in the USA, Canada and Mexico.  Print format available at the REFERENCE DESK.

Current Census Sources: Construction & Housing

Current Census Sources: Business, Manufacturers, & Transportation

Current Business Reports

Retail/Wholesale Trade
Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services
Advance Monthly Sales for Retail & Food Services
Annual Retail Trade Data
2002 Retail Trade United States
Monthly Wholesale Trade
2002 Industry Series Report Wholesale Trade
Quarterly Financial Report for Manufacturing, Mining, and Trade Corporations Manufacturing and Trade Inventories and Sales
Service Annual Survey

Current Census Sources: Agriculture

2007 Census of Agriculture
Complete accounting of US agricultural production. The census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the Nation.

National Agricultural Statistics Service
NASS publications cover a wide range of subjects, from traditional crops, such as corn and wheat, to specialties, such as mushrooms and flowers; from agricultural prices to land in farms. The abundance of information produced has earned for NASS employees the title, "The Fact Finders of Agriculture."

National Agricultural Statistics Service 2008 Calendar

USDA Economics, Statistics, & Market Information System (Cornell Univ.)
Contains nearly 300 reports and data sets from the economics agencies of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).  These materials cover US and international agriculture and related topics.

World Agricultural Outlook Board (Cornell Univ.)
Full-text monthly reports of the "most current USDA forecasts of U.S. and world supply-use balances of major grains, soybeans and products, and cotton; and U.S. supply and use of sugar and livestock products."

Dairy Market Statistics Annual Summary

USDA Agency Reports Calendar

Economic Research Service
Official source for economic analysis and information on agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural America.

Agriculture Fact Book 2001-2002
A handy reference tool that offers convenient, one stop shopping, for information about US agriculture, rural America, food, nutrition & consumer issues, trade and more.

Current Labor Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Occupational Employment Statistics
OES provides estimates of the number of people employed in certain occupations, and estimates of the wages paid to them.  They are available for the nation as a whole, for individual States, and for metropolitan statistical areas (MSA).

Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009
Perform a keyword search or use the alphabetical index.

Number of Jobs, Labor Market Experience, and Earnings Growth: A Longitudinal Survey
Regional and State Employment and Unemployment
Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment
Employment Situation
Productivity and Costs
US Export and Import Price Indexes
Producer Price Index
Consumer Price Index
Real Earnings