LibGuides: Environmental Scan: Why, When, How: Sources of Data

Economic Data

You need to know how your target market earns and spends it's money. This can be related to larger political and sociological factors. How stable are the incomes in your market? Are they affected by global event?

Below are public databases of jobs and expenditure.

Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan source of data and analysis, and takes no advocacy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Claritas
Claritas helps companies identify people who become their best customers — based on behavior, beliefs, and their readiness to buy.
US Census Data
Google Trends
Explore what the World is searching.

Economic Indicators

US Census Bureau: Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders
US Census: Monthly Wholesale Trade
The Conference Board Data Central
Most of these datasets are accessible by subscription only, however, they have made a limited amount of recent data available. These data are for internal research purposes only and not for redistribution.You need to make an account and log in to access this data.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Expenditure CE Tables
US Census: Manufacturing and Trade Inventories and Sales
Institute for Supply Management: Report on Business
EDGAR: US Securities and Exchange Commission Filings and Forms
All companies, foreign and domestic, are required to file registration statements, periodic reports, and other forms electronically through EDGAR. Anyone can access and download this information for free. Here you'll find links to a complete list of filings available through EDGAR and instructions for searching the EDGAR database.
US Department of Commerce: Economic Indicators
US Census Annual Survey of Manufacturers
Live Flight Tracking
US Census: Annual Survey of State Government Finances
US Census: Poverty Statistics
The Census Bureau provides poverty data from several household surveys and programs. Here you can find poverty estimates, learn about these surveys and programs, and get guidance on how to choose the right estimate for your needs.
US Census 2020 Data Release
American Community Survey for the 2020 Census will be released Sept. 23, 2021
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
World Bank Open Data

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) This link opens in a new window
Complete Working Papers collection that cover all aspects of economic analysis.
Coverage: 1998 - current
The National Bureau of Economic Research is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of how the economy works. It concentrates on four types of empirical research: developing new statistical measurements, estimating quantitative models of economic behavior, assessing the effects of public policies on the United States economy, and projecting the effects of alternative policy proposals. The more than 600 professors of economics and business now teaching at universities around the country who are NBER researchers are the leading scholars in their fields.

Global Edge
from Michigan State Broad College of Business, Global Edge is a comprehensive business research tool, including Global Insights, Reference Desk and Tools and Data.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis: Data Portal
US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Databases, Tables and Calculators by Subject
US Census: County Business Patterns
County Business Patterns is a division of the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Commerce. You need an NAICS code to find information. You can narrow your search by year, industry (NAICS code), state and region.
US Census: Current Population Survey

Environmental Scan: Why, When, How

Datasets by Topic

Economic Data

Economic Indicators

Company Information