Business Primary Sources
Bear in mind that many of these resources have primary, secondary, AND tertiary resources! If you are looking for primary sources, then what you want is probably either:
- raw data, statistics, charts, graphs
- documentation produced in the course of doing business
Sometimes you'll find these things on their own. Other times you'll have to dig through a secondary resource (like a report or a profile) to get to them.
- American FactFinder (from the U.S. Census)Search data from the Census including maps, tables, and reports. You can get information on population, housing, and fact sheets on towns, counties, zip codes, and states.
- AnnualReports.comLook up annual reports by company name, industry, sector, or stock exchange.
- BigChartsCompany and industry information including historical stock quotes for companies that are still in business.
- BizStatsFree industry statistics and financial ratios.
- BloombergFinancial news and data as well as stock information.
- CNNMoney Bonds and Interest RatesData and information on bonds and bond markets.
- Columbia Historical Corporate Reports Online Collection: Digitized Annual Reports from Watson Library's CollectionHistorical corporate annual reports from the mid-1800s through the 1960s.
- Data.govReplaces FedStats. Federal government statistics and data sets of all kinds.
- Economic CensusHuge amounts of industry information gathered by the U.S. government once every five years.
- Economic Census - Economic Data & Information - A to Z ListHuge amounts of industry information gathered by the U.S. government once every five years. Yes, we included it twice. This is another way to access the information. Convenient if you know what you're looking for.
- GPO Access - Business and EconomyU.S. Government Printing Office.
- International Monetary FundGlobal financial and economic data.
- Mineral Industry Surveys from the U.S. Geological SurveyStatistical and economic data on the production, distribution, consumption, and supply of mineral commodities.
- University Reporter (formerly MRI+)Database of demographics, lifestyle, product and brand usage, advertising media preferences information. Information is based on a sample of about 25,000 people and the information is 1-2 years old when you access it.
Free registration required. - National Retail FederationAn industry association web site that includes information about consumer behavior and spending. Look under the Industry Information tab.
- OFFSTATSA database of official statistics from various governments and non-governmental organizations.
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)World macroeconomic and trade data. Click on the Statistics tab.
- Population Reference BureauSearch indicators and create reports related to population, health, and the environment around the world. Different parts of the world have different kinds of information available - it is not consistent. Data sources include the US Census, other national censuses, the UN, and the International Energy Agency.
- U.S. Census - County Business PatternsEconomic data by industry for each county. Excludes information on self-employment, domestic, agricultural, government, and railroad employees.
- U.S. Commodity Futures Trading CommissionThis department of the government collects information from commodities in order to ensure that investors have enough good information to make decisions. The site has information about commodities markets.
- U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration - Export.gov - Market ResearchMarket reports on industries in various countries as well as trade issues in those countries.
- U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration - TradeStats ExpressQuick import and export data, but not very specific.
- U.S. Department of State - A to Z List of Country and Other Area PagesBilateral relations fact sheets and sometimes also has links to country background notes.
- U.S. Government Accountability OfficeThe GAO is an independent agency that oversees the federal government's spending of tax dollars.
- U.S. International Trade Commission - Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWebCensus import and export data going back many years. Usually fairly up to date - for example, January information should be available by March. You need to figure out the code for the product you're looking for.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionThis department of the government ensures that companies disclose important facts about their operations, so that investors have the information they need to make decisions. Use the search box at the top right (you may know this database as EDGAR) to look up the SEC filings of a certain company.
- UNDataStatistical databases from the United Nations. You can search by keyword or browse by country. There is also a glossary and a description of each of the datasets.
- USA.govData and statistics from all U.S. government agencies, including on Taxation, Transportation, Public Safety, Education, Jobs, Health, Population, Environment, Energy, Agriculture, Defense, International Relations, Business, Economy, etc.
- World Bank DataInternational socioeconomic development data, including t he World Development Indicator (WDI) and the Global Development Finance (GDF.)
