LTC Library: Business Research Guide: Market &amp; Consumer Research

Market & Consumer Information

The following resources will help you understand potential customers to predict their spending habits and consumer needs and wants.

Consumer Spending

Consumer Expenditure Survey
Analyzes the buying habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit characteristics.
Consumer Spending
See stats on consumer spending compiled by the US Bureau of Economic Advancement
American Time Use Survey
See how Americans spend their time between work, leisure, child care, school etc.
US Census Data
Access data and digital content from the U.S. Census

US Demographics

USA Quick Facts
Manipulate maps and tables to get a snapshot of the population you are researching.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
See the make-up of the US workforce - including earnings, work status, and other demographic information.

International Demographics

United Nations Demographic and Social Statistics
A portal for a variety of UN statistics and publications, including the Demographic Yearbook.
International Database (IDB)
This tool of the US Census Bureau compiles information from 200 countries.

Consumer Behavior & Trends

Pew Research Center
The Pew Research Center has a ton of free research that you can use to understand your target market - everything from economic information, public opinion surveys, and social media trends.
Think with Google
This versatile site from Google allows you to subscribe to receive updates on market trends in your industry - including consumer insights, tools to test the usability of your website, find your target audience, and create marketing materials.
Google Trends
See what topics are trending on Google's search engine.