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BUSINESS INFORMATION from GOVERNMENT SOURCES

Brief descriptions and locations for the most commonly requested government information business sources are listed below. Increasingly, many key resources are available via federal agency Internet sites. In some cases, the Web may provide the "only access" to a resource. This guide attempts to link print (library call numbers listed) and Web (hotlinks provided) access to key time series data.

Business Statistics of the United States (print only)
Contains time series for various economic indicators and related industries. Figures are annual, monthly or quarterly for recent years. General subject index included.
* Ref HF3001.B875 (Latest Edition released kept in reference)
* Gen Col (3rd floor) HF3001.B875 YR. (Earlier Years: 1995-)

Business Statistics (historic print only)
Issued biennially by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Contains historical data and methodological notes for various economic indicators and related industries that appear in the Survey of Current Business. Figures are annual, monthly or quarterly for recent years. General subject index included.
* Gov Pub Shelves C 59.11/3: 1953 - 1991

Survey of Current Business (web version from 1994 to present)
Monthly journal containing estimates and analyses of U.S. economic activity. Contents include special articles, a Business Situation section reviewing current economic developments and monthly updates on the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) and Business Cycle Indicators.
*Gov Pub Shelves C 59.11:vol. 1, 1921 to present

County Business Patterns (web version from 1993 to present)
(various web formats since 2004)
Covers business in U.S. states and counties. Gives number of establishments, employees and payroll by industry and employment-size class.
* Gov Pub Shelves C 3.204/3 1964-1997 (no longer distributed to the library in print)

Economic Report of the President (download web versions from 1995 to present; search from 1996-)
Contains the President's annual statement on the economy including program and policies, assessment of the economic situation and the administration's economic strategies. A statistical appendix provides comprehensive historical statistics (going back 30 years) on national income, employment, productivity, business activity, prices and finance.

* Gov Pub Ref PR 42.9: Latest print in Gov Pub reference
* Gov Pub Shelves PR no.9: Earlier Years*
Each presidential administration's reports are numbered differently, beginning with Franklin Roosevelt.

Federal Reserve Bulletin (web version from 1996 to present)
Monthly periodical containing articles on finance, business and banking. Statistical section is an excellent source of U.S. banking and monetary statistics, including federal finance, interest and exchange rates, stock market indexes, new security issues, mortgage markets, flow of funds, consumer installment credit and some international statistics.
* Gov Pub Shelves FR 1.3: vol. 1- 1915- July 1998 (no longer distributed to the library in print)

National Income and Product Accounts of the United States (current web access)
NIPA contains quarterly figures for the components of GNP and other accounts, giving a long range picture of the U.S. Economy. Database features interactive tables.
* Gov Pub CD C 59.11/5-2:929-2001 (1929-2001)
* Gov Pub Shelves C 59.11/5:929-94 v.1-2 (1929-1994)
* Gov Pub Shelves C 59.11/4:IN 2/929-58 v.1 (1929-1958)
* Gov Pub Shelves C 59.11/4:IN 2/958-88 v.2 (1958-1988)

Economic Censuses
Economic censuses are taken every five years for years ending with a "2" and a "7". Data for these censuses provide information on U.S. business and industry, such as lines of business and geographic location, number of employees and payroll figures, and measures of output such as sales receipts, value of shipments or operating expenses.

(1997 Economic Census) http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/econ97.html#1997
(2002 Economic Census) http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/

The Budget and Economic Outlook (web access 1981 to present)
Provides economic outlook and state of the economy projections. Budget outlook includes deficit, revenue and projections. Appendices include historical budget data.
* Gov Pub Ref Y 10.13: (latest print copy at ref desk)
* Gov Pub Shelves Y 10.13: 1985 -

Key Federal Agency and Aggregate Web Sites for Locating Government Business Statistics

LexisNexis Statistical (Available to ODU faculty and students)
Provides online access to the American Statistics Index (for federal publications) and the Statistical Reference Index (for non-federal publications).

STAT-USA, (a subscription service for ODU faculty and students)
Serves as a gateway for information from numerous federal agencies. "State of the Nation" provides economic and financial data for the United States. "GLOBUS & NTDB" provides trade and international marketing information.

Many federal agencies also provide access to time series and full text publications on their web pages. Faculty, students and members of the general public can access the following sites freely.

* Bureau of Economic Analysis
* Bureau of Labor Statistics
* Census Bureau Use subjects A to Z to "link" to resources
* Commerce Dept.

Many of the business publications listed above have full text electronic versions and are hot linked in the Library's online catalog. Do a title search in the Library's catalog at http://iii.lib.odu.edu.