Humanities & Social Sciences
Market Research Information

Begin your research by asking yourself three crucial questions:

Who Are My Customers? (i.e., Demographics)

Print Resources

Demographics USA (County and Zip Code Edition).
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HF5415 .S33 and 335
Statistical Abstract of the United States.
Latest at Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HA37 .U4

Finding Information on Consumer Behavior and Lifestyle Interests:

Lifestyle Market Analyst.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HF5415.33.U6 L54
American Attitudes: Who Thinks What about the Issues That Shape Our Lives.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HN90.P8 M58

Finding Information on Buying Power and Spending:

American Incomes: Demographics on Who Has Money.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HC110.I5 A447
American Marketplace: Demographics on Spending Patterns.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HA203 .A635
Best Customers: Demographics on Consumer Demand.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HC79.C6 R87M
Household Spending: Who Spends How Much on What?
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HC110.C6 O34
Survey of Buying Power and Media Markets.
Shields Library HF5415 .S342
American Generations: Who they Are, How They Live, What They Think.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HC110.C6 M545
Americans 55 & Older: A Changing Market.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HQ1064.U5 A6455
The Baby Boom: Americans Aged 35 to 54.
Shields Library HN60 .R87
Generation X: Americans Aged 18 to 34.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HC110.C6 M544
Racial and Ethnic Diversity: Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Whites.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference E184.A1 R78

Internet Resources

Zip Code Demographics.
Statistical Abstract of the United States.
Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Who Are My Competitors?

To find competitors, a NAICS or SIC code(s) for the relevant product or industry is useful. Check these two manuals:

Standard Industrial Classification Manual.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HF1042 .A55 1987
NAICS. North American Industry Classification System.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HF1042 .N6 2000

What Is The State Of My Industry?

Market Share Reporter.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HF5410 .M35 Lib Use Only
U.S. Market Trends & Forecasts.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HF5415.1 .U8 Lib Use Only
Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HF5353 .E52
Encyclopedia of American Industries.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HC102 .E53
Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HC106.6 .S74
US Industry and Trade Outlook.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HC106.5 .A17
Manufacturing USA.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HD9724 .M36
Service Industries USA.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HD9981.3 .S47 1996
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate USA.
Shields Library HSSGIS Reference HF5035 .F56 1995
Stat-USA.