Locating Industry Information Tutorial
What is the industry code for the industry you are researching?
Where can I find a profile of the industry, including basic data, composite industry data, and an indication of key issues and trends?
Where can I obtain industry-wide norms for common financial ratios?
What about data from Census Statistics?
Trade and professional associations play an important role in disseminating industry information.
Where can I find recent articles about an industry that have been published in news magazines, trade journals, and newspapers?
Brokerage house reports can also be a good source of information on specific companies and industries.
A complete listing of all databases referenced in this tutorial
A complete listing of all print resources referenced in this tutorial
See the print resources for this section
Send us comments on this tutorial
Ask a reference librarian a question
Submit a suggestion to the Business Library
Send mail to Gary White
Send mail to Diane Zabel
Send mail to Kevin Harwell

Welcome to the Penn State Business Library's "Locating Industry Information" Tutorial!

Information on a specific company needs to be supplemented with information on the industry in which the firm competes. Industry research is a key component of strategic planning. This tutorial will lead you through the process of conducting a basic industry analysis.

Work your way through the tutorial by clicking on the bulleted items at the left from top to bottom or use the "Forward" arrow. The "Forward" and "Backward" arrows on each page allow you to retrace your steps and review material or move forward through the tutorial.

Each section of this tutorial provides a direct link to one or more searchable databases best suited to that section's particular information needs. If you have questions about using the database(s), simply click on the "How To Use..." button for an example search.

Some areas of this tutorial also feature a listing of print sources (with call numbers) to supplement your search; simply click on the "Print Resources" button to access these listings.

For your convenience you may access a handy collection of all the databases featured in this tutorial by clicking on Quick Access Database Collection. Similarly, you will find a listing (with call numbers) of all print resources mentioned in this tutorial by clicking on the Quick Access Print Collection.
 
Industry Codes