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Data Sources for Marketing Research: U.S. Data sources: from Ag to Transportation

PURPOSE: Provides a list of potential sources of data for students who need data for projects in BADM 476.

U.S. data sources: from Agriculture to Transportation

Federal agencies collect, compile, and distribute data and statistics on a wide range of topics. The major ones are listed below.

The source for the list below is Hartsell-Gundy (2014).  A summary of what statistics are provided by each agency may be found in the article:

 

 

Statistical agencies of the U.S. government and the kinds of statistics they provide:

  • Agricultural economics statistics. Economic Research Service (ERS). http://www.ers.usda.gov/.
  • Agricultural statistics and the Census of Agriculture. National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS). http://www.nass.usda.gov/. 
  • Crime statistics and law enforcement statistics. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). http://www.bjs.gov. 
  • Economic indicators.   Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). http://www.bea.gov. . See, especially, “The U.S. Economy at a Glance.”
  • Educational statistics. National Center for Education Statistics. http://nces.ed.gov/. See, especially, fast facts (https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/).
  • Energy production, consumption, emissions, and waste statistics. Energy Information Administration (EIA). http://www.eia.gov. 
  • Health statistics. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/.  See especially, NCHS fast facts page (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/).
  • Immigration statistics and more. Department of Homeland Security. http://www.dhs.gov. 
  • Labor statistics, and, also, the key publications Occupational Outlook Handbook and Monthly Labor Review. Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov. 
  • Population, housing, and economic census statistics. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov. See, especially, American Factfinder.
  • Science and engineering education and research statistics. National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/. 
  • Social security statistics. Social Security Administration Office of Research Evaluation and Statistics (ORES). http://www.ssa.gov/policy/about/ORES.html. 
  • Statistical Programs of the United States of America. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg_statpolicy. 
  • Taxation statistics. Statistics of Income (SoI). http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Stats-2. 
  • Transportation, travel, and freight statistics. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/. 

 

U.S. data sources: Census Bureau in greater detail

United States Census Bureau

 

HOW TO GET CENSUS BUREAU DATA:

  • Use American FactFinder to access American Community Survey (ACS) data products.  Produces social, economic, housing, and demographic statistics for areas within the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Includes:
    • Profiles - Quickly find broad social, economic, housing, and demographic statistics for our community.
    • Thematic Maps - Use this online tool to better understand your community through interactive maps.
    • Tables - Use the 11+ billion ACS estimates published every year to answer your questions about communities.
  • Make your own datasets with ACS PUMS files. ACS provides Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) for more advanced users. These files contain individual-level datasets that you can tabulate on your own computer. Access in two ways:
    • Download the files from American Factfinder for use with software sucah as SAS or SPSS.
    • Use DataFerrett, an online access tool to create your own tabulations for download.

Some facts about the Census Bureau

Its mission is to be "the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy." Collects and distributes huge amounts of data on people and businesses at regular intervals:

  • Population & Housing Census - every 10 years
  • Economic Census - every 5 year
  • Census of Governments - every 5 years
  • American Community Survey - annually
  • Many additional surveys -- both Demographic & Economic

U.S. Data Sources: Additional Examples

U.S. federal and state agencies gather and compile data on communities, economics, business, health, crime, and more. These sites are examples of some of the agencies that provide large data sets.

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