Research Guides: *Getting Started with Business Research: Industry Info

Industry Research Guide

Industry research is complicated and only a sample of resources and research techniques are highlighted here. For additional tips, see the more detailed guide linked below.

Industry Research
by Judy Geczi Last Updated Jan 30, 2023 100 views this year

Industry Analysis

Selected subscription (SLU-only) databases with significant industry content:

IBISWorld
Find detailed industry reports on everything from Automobile Manufacturing to Wedding Planning.

Standard & Poors Global Market Intelligence This link opens in a new window
Choose the Industry Surveys tab at the top.

BizMiner
Bizminer offers industry financial analysis benchmarks for over 5,000 lines of business and industry market trends on thousands more. The market analysis reports are available at the national and local levels down to the zip code.
Mergent Online
Click the Report Search tab, then choose the industries of interest.

Passport: Global Market Information Database This link opens in a new window
From Euromonitor International. Provides international business research intelligence on industries, countries, and consumers located in Asia Pacific, Australasia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa, North America, and Western Europe.
Resource is available only to current SLU students, faculty, and staff....more.

Industry Statistics

BizMiner This link opens in a new window
Bizminer offers industry financial analysis benchmarks for over 5,000 lines of business and industry market trends on thousands more. The market analysis reports are available at the national and local levels down to the zip code....more.
RMA eStatement Studies This link opens in a new window
2003/04-present. Provides Financial Ratio Benchmarks, Industry Default Probabilities, and Cash Flow Measures by industry. In addition, the digital version allows you to break out this information by region in the United States….more.

SIC & NAICS Codes

The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) are classification systems used to group similar companies together for the purpose of analyzing data. SIC uses a four-digit system, and NAICS uses a six-digit system. Use these websites to find SIC or NAICS codes, or to compare the two systems.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
The Economic Census publishes this resource online, and provides descriptions of NAICS codes as well as a searchable index for the 2012, 2007 and 2002 NAICS Manuals.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
This website is maintained by the United States Department of Labor, and allows the user to search the 1987 version SIC manual by keyword.
NAICS Association
This is not a government website, but rather maintained by a private company. However, this website provides a good one-stop place for searching NAICS and SIC systems, as well as a drill-down table for the codes.