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KFBS Resources for Grad Students: Industry Research

Industry Reports

Trade Magazines/Publications

Industry Ratios (Financial & Performance)

Rankings & Market Share

Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Census Data on Industries

Guides to Industry Research

Introduction to Industry Research

Industry analysis is focused on the status of an industry or an industrial sector (a broad concept like "manufacturing"). A complete industrial analysis usually covers the industry's recent performance, its current status, and its outlook. Many analyses include a combination of text and statistical data.

There are many sources of industry analysis: library subscription databases, investment firms, business and trade magazines, trade associations, and government agencies. If you need to conduct a thorough industry analysis, use a variety of sources.

What are trade publications?

Also called:

  • trade journals
  • industry journals
  • industry magazines
  • professional magazines

These are publications written for professionals working in particular industies.

Examples:

  • Advertising Age
  • Billboard [music industry]
  • Chain Store Age
  • Hotel & Motel Management
  • Nursing Times
  • Plastics & Rubber Weekly
  • Publisher's Weekly
  • WWD: Women's Wear Daily

The articles from these magazines can include news, expert commentary, and statistics not available anyplace else.

Most industry magazines have some free content online, but the library's databases provide articles from thousands of these magazines in a single search.

What are industry associations?

Also called trade associations, these organizations can be an excellent source of industry information. An association might collect data not available from any other source. Try to identify the associations for your industry. Then try to find the association's homepage and publications.

Examples of associations:

  • American Hotel & Lodging Association
  • Consumer Electronics Association
  • National Retail Federation
  • Society of the Plastics Industry

Often, however, the best information is limited to members of the association.