Business America. This monthly publication of the Department of Commerce contains country-by-country marketing reports, incisive economic analyses, worldwide trade leads, advance notice of planned exhibitions of U.S. products worldwide, and success stories of export marketing. (GPO:703-011-00000-4). Contact Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; telephone 202-512-1800.
Commerce Business Daily (CBD). CBD is published daily, Monday through Friday (except holidays), by the Department of Commerce. It lists government procurement invitations over $25,000, contract awards, subcontracting leads, sales of surplus property, and foreign business opportunities, as well as certain foreign government procurements. It is available by subscription and on-line (electronically). Contact the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; telephone 202-512-1800. For on-line subscriptions contact STAT-USA at 1-800-STAT-USA (1-800-782-8872). This information center was established as a comprehensive source for U.S. companies seeking information on federal programs and activities that support U.S. exports, including information on overseas markets and industry trends. The center maintains a computerized calendar of U.S. government-sponsored domestic and overseas trade events. Telephone 1-800-USA-TRADE; email: tic@ita.doc.gov; Internet home page: www.ita.doc.gov/td/tic.
Trade Information Center. This information centerwas established as a comprehensive source for U.S. companies seeking information on federal programs and activities that support U.S. exports, including information on overseas markets and industy trends. This center maintains a computerized calendar of U.S. Government-sponsored domestic and overseas trade events. Telephone 1-800-USA-TRADE; email: tic@ita.doc.gov; Internet home page: http://www.ita.doc.gov.
Economic Bulletin Board (EBB). EBB is a great resource for business, economic, and trade information on a daily basis in a traditional dial-up platform. You can connect to this vast collection of information and download trade leads, market research reports, and the Commerce Business Daily via your computer. Subscription costs are low and vary, depending on which information you choose to access. For more information, call 1-800-STAT-USA (800-782-8872).
The National Trade Data Bank (NTDB). The NTDB is one of the primary sources of export information from the federal government. The NTDB is a must-have resource, gathering trade information from over 20 different government agencies into one place. The NTDB is a low-cost business service run by the Department of Commerce, which provides market research reports, Country Commercial Guides, contacts overseas, trade statistics, policy and trade practices, legal ramifications of exporting, an export promotion calendar, and publications. The NTDB is updated daily on the Internet (www.stat-usa.gov) and updated monthly on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM version is avail-able to use for at over 1,000 federal depository libraries throughout the country. To find the library closest to you, purchase access for your desktop, or learn more, call 1-800-STAT-USA.
STATUSA/Internet. A comprehensive collection of business, economic and trade information available on the Web. Through this address you can access the NTDB, daily trade leads and economic news, the Commerce Business Daily and the latest economic press releases and statistical series from the federal government. For more information on this low cost service, call 1-800-STAT-USA (800-782-8872).
STAT-USA/Fax. This fax on demand service providing instant hard copy of business and economic information from the federal government. All releases are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The most popular fax documents include the daily trade leads and numerous U.S. government economic press releases. For more information, call 1-800-STAT-USA (800-782-8872).
TRADESTATS. A comprehensive source for U.S. export and import data, both current and historical. Maintained by the Commerce Department's Office of Trade and Economic Analysis, this web site contains total and disaggregated U.S. trade statistics by country and commodity classifications, state and metropolitan area export data, and trade and industry statistics. Much of this data is downloadable. The Web site address is www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea.
Selected SBA market research-related general resources. The Small Business Administration publishes many helpful guides to assist small and medium-sized companies, including: Marketing for Small Business: An Overview, Researching Your Market, Breaking into the Trade Game, or the videos Marketing: Winning Customers with a Workable Plan, The Basics of Exporting. Contact the Small Business Answer Desk, 1-800-U-ASK-SBA (1-800-827-5722).
International Information
UN Statistical Yearbook. Published by the United Nations (UN), this yearbook is one of the most complete statistical reference books available. It provides international trade information on products, including information on importing countries useful in assessing import competition. The yearbook contains data for 220 countries and territories on economic and social subjects, including population, agriculture, manufacturing, commodity, export-import trade, and many other areas. The most current addition is from 1993; it is available in hard copy and CD-ROM. Contact United Nations Publications, Room DC2-0853, New York, NY 10017; telephone 212-963-8302.
World Bank Atlas. The World Bank Atlas provides demographics, gross domestic product, and average growth rates for every country. The latest edition, 1997, covers data through 1996. Contact World Bank Publications, P.O. Box 7247-8169, Philadelphia, PA 19170-8169; telephone 202-473-1155, fax 703-661-1501.
World Factbook. Produced annually by the CIA, this publication provides country-by-country data on demographics, economy, communications, and defense. The data is available through a subscription to the NTDB (to subscribe call 1-800-STAT-USA). To order a hard copy, contact the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; telephone 202-512-1800.
International Financial Statistics (IFS). Published by the International Monetary Fund, IFS presents statistics on exchange rates, money and banking, production, government finance, interest rates, and other subjects. It is available in hard copy as a monthly subscription or on CD-ROM. Contact the International Monetary Fund, Publication Services, 700 19th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20431; telephone 202-623-7430.
World Population Profile. This valuable resource is produced by the Bureau of the Census of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Census collects and analyzes worldwide demographic data that can help exporters identify potential markets for their products. Information on each country - total population, fertility, mortality, urban population, growth rate, and life expectancy - is updated every two years. The document also contains detailed demographic profiles of individual countries, including analysis of labor force structure, and infant mortality. For the latest edition, contact the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; telephone 202-512-1800.
Back to Sources of Market Research
More about Exporting:
Introduction
Developing an Export Plan
Developing a Market Plan
Methods of Market Research
A Step-by-Step Approach to Market Research
Sources of Market Research
Export Advice
Methods/Channels
Making Contacts
Technology Licensing /Joint Ventures
Preparing Your Product for Export
Service Exports
International Legal Considerations
Shipping Your Product
Pricing, Quotations, and Terms
Methods of Payment
Financing Export Transactions
Selling Overseas
After-sales Service
