http://www.library.upenn.edu/lippincott

Database Search Aid - #24

U.S. ECONOMIC CENSUS

A. Economy Overview

Find all the programs that cover your industry.

www.census.gov/econ/overview/

A handy guide to what is available in government information for industries, with links to the documents.

• Construction Programs (Buildings, alterations and public works)
• Governments (Local, state and Federal agencies)
• Industrial Products (Durable and nondurable goods)
• International Trade (Exports, imports and participants)
• Manufacturing (Companies, operations and shipments)
• Mining (Minerals, gases and initial processing)
• Multi-Industry (Programs covering several industries)
• Retail (Merchandise for personal or home use)
• Services (Personal, business and transport services)
• Wholesale (Merchandise for business use)

B. American FactFinder Search Tool - 1997 U.S. Economic Census

Find all the statistics for a particular product or service.

An electronic system for access and dissemination of Census Bureau data on the Internet. The system offers prepackaged data products and user-selected data tables and maps from Census 2000, the 1990 Census of Population and Housing, the 1997 Economic Census and the American Community Survey.

The U.S. Economic Census, conducted every five years, is the primary source for U.S. business and industry statistics. It reports number of establishments, sales, payroll, production and more on the national and local level. American FactFinder provides an easy way to search this enormous collection of data.

American FactFinder searches the Censuses of:

• Accommodation / Foodservices
• Administrative /Support
• Arts / Entertainment / Recreation
• Construction
• Educational Services
• Health Care / Social Assistance;
• Information/ Finance / Insurance
• Management of Companies and Enterprises
• Manufacturing
• Mining
• Professional / Scientific / Technical Services
• Retail Trade
• Transportation and Warehousing
• Utilities
• Waste Management / Remediation Services
• Wholesale Trade
• Other Services (except Public Administration)

Search Example #1 - Towel Bar Manufacturing

STEP ONE: Look up the NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code:

1. Go to: http://www.census.gov
   
2. Click on NAICS, under “Business” in the center of the page
   
3. Click theNAICS Search box, then type a Search Keyword: towel
   
4. SEARCH
   
5. Make a note of the NAICS code, 327111
   

STEP TWO: Get the data:

1. Go back to http://www.census.gov
   
2. Click on American FactFinder
   
3. Click on Detailed Statistics (under 1997 Economic Census)
   
4. Click on Find a Data Set
   
5. Click on Industry / Product
   
6. Select a Sector: 31-33 Manufacturing.
   
7. Select a Sub-Sector: 327 Nonmetallic mineral product mfg.
   
8. Select Industry: 327111 Vitreous china plumbing Then click OK
   
9. Highlight a Data Set (There are about 15 data sets from which to choose; arrow down to see them all.) Now scroll to the right and click Get Data
   
10. Back up and repeat Step #7 to get other data sets, such as regional, comparison to 1992, or materials used

Search Example #2 - Employment Figures by Industry Within a Geographic Area

1. Go to: http://factfinder.census.gov
   
2. Under "FactFinder Data Sources / Economic Census" click on Geography Quick Reports
   
3. Select a type of area
   
4. Click on a Geographic Area, then Show Report