Business & Economics Library: Your Ultimate Database

Business Technical Writing: Principles of Business Communication

This web page has been created for Business Technical Writing 250.

  • Print: go to the library specified, and find them by call number;
  • UIUC Online Research Resources: available to all UIUC affiliated faculty, staff and students. You will be prompted to log in with your NetID and password if you access them outside the UIUC campus network. You can access them from Online Research Resources or via the drop down list.
  • Biznet Databases: you can access them either in the Business & Economics Library Computer Room or in the Office for Information Management (OIM) Labs in the College of Business.
  • Business & Economics Library Computer Room Databases: you can only use them in the Business & Economics Library Computer Room.
  • WWW: general websites (some come with our subscription).

The Business & Economics Library Staff can assist you with getting started with these and other resources. If you have any questions, please e-mail BEL@library.uiuc.edu .

Economic Information

UIUC Online Research Resources World Development Indicators Online WDI Online offers the World Bank's comprehensive database on development data, covering 593 indicators, 208 economies, and 18 regional and income groups. The extensive collection of development data includes social, economic, financial, natural resources, and environmental indicators for more than forty years (1960 to 2003, where data are available). The data can be downloaded into spreadsheets.
UIUC Online Research Resources EIU Country Intelligenc The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) provides quarterly analysis and forecasts of the political, economic and business environment in more than 180 countries. Included in each country report is a detailed review and analysis of political and economic events, a compilation of the latest economic indicators as well as a 12-24 month political outlook and economic projection. Annual Country Profiles include statistical tables covering five years of the main macroeconomic indicators. Risk Ratings Review offers country risk ratings based on political, economic, and social policies and practices.
UIUC Online Research Resources GLOBUS & National Trade Databank (NTDB) via STAT-USA Contains the full text of trade information, domestic and foreign economic data, import and export statistics, country market research reports, global trade directory and national export directory, compiled by 15 federal agencies. It contains over 150,000 time series, tables, and documents. NTDB is updated regularly. The most useful links for country information are the Country Commercial Guides and International Market Insights.
WWW US Census Bureau The ultimate place to find comprehensive and detailed demographic information on the United States. Now includes Census 2000 data. Pay attention to the browsable index "Subjects A to Z" and the categories on the home page. "American Fact Finder" offers detailed demographic information on state, county, and city levels.
WWW American Factfinder American Factfinder offers detailed analysis of Census data in a variety of forms. This page facilitates your understanding of demographic data.
WWW Bureau of Economic Analysis The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) provides an aggregated view of the final uses of the Nation's output and the income derived from its production; two of its most widely known measures are gross domestic product (GDP) and gross domestic income (GDI). BEA also prepares estimates of the Nation's stock of fixed assets and consumer durable goods.
317
Un3s
(BEL Reserves)		 Statistical Abstract of the United States Provides an overview of statistics collected by the federal government and public and private organizations on social and economic conditions in the United States. Supplies tables of demographic data, industry statistics (divided into sections including agriculture, finance, technology, transportation, and services), labor statistics, and a summary of the latest economic census.

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Industry Information

658.05
ST
(BEL Reserves)		 Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys Published quarterly, the three-volume set covers 52 major industries. Topics include current industry environment, industry profile, glossary and industry references. Many charts and tables are included. From July 1983, includes earnings supplement giving revenue, income data and rankings for over 1300 leading companies.
338.5
Un48u1a
(BEL Reserves)		 U.S. Industry & Trade Outlook Includes 50 chapters providing trends and economic outlooks for mainly the manufacturing sectors, but some financial sectors as well.More objective in analysis, but major players omitted. Some individual reports are also available electronically via OneSource (Look under "Industry -> market research")
UIUC Online Research Resources Investext Contains investment research reports on global companies and industries. About 5,000 reports are added to this database weekly. The three main coverage areas of research include: companies, industries, and world's regional economies. Detailed and timely financial analysis of global companies and strategy recommendations for investors.
WWW Current Industrial Reports This Current Industrial Report (CIR) from the U.S. Census offers monthly, quarterly, and annual measures of industrial activity. The primary objective of the CIR program is to produce timely, accurate data on production and shipments of selected products. The data are used to satisfy economic policy needs and for market analysis, forecasting, and decision-making in the private sector. These surveys measure manufacturing activity in important commodity areas such as textiles and apparel, chemicals, primary metals, computer and electronic components, industrial equipment, aerospace equipment, and consumer goods.
WWW Internet Intelligence Index, from Fuld & Company The Internet Intelligence Index provides information from a wide variety of public services. It contains links to over 600 business information Internet sites, covering everything from macro-economic data to individual patent and stock quote information.

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Company Information

UIUC Online Research Resources OneSource An excellent one-stop place for company and market information. For companies, it has detailed descriptions, current financial data and news stories. For industries, it has market research reports, news, etc.
** Available to UIUC affiliates only. You must register for a free account and after that it can be accessible from anywhere.
UIUC Online Research Resources MarketLine (formerly Datamonitor) Contains profiles and analysis on global companies and industries. Provides key facts, history, products/services, competitors, SWOT analyses, and locations of subsidiaries.
WWW Yahoo Finance Provides historical and current company and market information. Information on stock prices, company profiles, financial news, market summary are freely available.
WWW Google Finance Provides historical and current company and market information. Information on stock prices, company profiles, financial news, market summary are freely available.
WWW Search Strategy for U.S. Company Information (pdf) This step-by-step flow chart tells you how to find vital information about companies in the United States.
WWW IBM Guide to Annual Financial Reports IBM has provided a basic introduction to financial statements for people with little experience reading financial statements or annual reports.
WWW Fundamental Analysis Investopedia has provided a useful guide to quarterly and annual financial reports. This page guides you methodically through the process of finding and understanding these vital business documents.
WWW Researching Companies Online< This business research tutorial presents a step-by-step process for finding free company and industry information on the World Wide Web.

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Consumer Information

317
Un3s
(BEL Reserves)		 Statistical Abstract of the United States Provides an overview of statistics collected by the federal government and public and private organizations on social and economic conditions in the United States. Supplies tables of demographic data, industry statistics (divided into sections including agriculture, finance, technology, transportation, and services), labor statistics, and a summary of the latest economic census.
658.8340973
L6261
(BEL Reserves)		 Lifestyle Market Analyst Contains statistics on lifestyle interests of different people in major cities in each state. Divided into market profiles by cities, lifestyle profiles by lifestyles and interests, and consumer segment profiles by age, sex, and marital status. Also lists consumer magazines and direct mail lists targeted to each lifestyle profile. Good for market segmentation.

Q.339.47
H816 1999
(BEL Reserves)

Household Spending: Who spends how much on what Contains statistics on people's spending on different items such as apparel, entertainment, food and beverages, arranged by age, income, household type and region.
UIUC Online Research Resources Global Market Information Database Contains demographic, economic, and background marketing statistics for over 200 countries, as well as market and economic forecasts to the year 2010. Also furnishes volume and value market size data for 330 consumer products across 49 countries. Includes a directory of over 100,000 consumer brands and the 12,000 companies from around the world that own them. It also includes a "Global Market Share Planner" that shows performance indicators for leading multinationals or top global players and their profiles. Also contains a directory of business information sources to locate products, companies, and other data not included in the database.
WWW US Census Bureau The ultimate place to find comprehensive and detailed demographic information on the United States. Now includes Census 2000 data. Pay attention to the browsable index "Subjects A to Z" and the categories on the home page. "American FactFinder" offers detailed demographic information on state, county, and city levels.
WWW Claritas: My Best Segments Market Segmentation Tool MyBestSegments is the only source for detailed segment description for all of Claritas' segmentation products. The data is constantly updated to be in sync with Claritas' MarketPlace suite of products - there is never a question about data vintage, because it's always the most recent.
WWW CensusScope CensusScope is an easy-to-use tool for investigating U.S. demographic trends, brought to you by the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN) at the University of Michigan. With eye-catching graphics and exportable trend data, CensusScope is designed for generalists and specialists.
WWW West Group Market Segmentation Analysis This page provides a useful overview of what market segmentation analysis is and what it offers.

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Business Writing

Q658.4012
B9643		 Business Plans Handbook Offers actual business plans developed by small businesses in the United States. Business plans compiled in these 8-volume books include diverse categories of small businesses, including automobile dealers, ice cream shops, elderly care homes, car wash, restaurants, and publishers. This publication helps understand how differently business plans are written and what information should be included based on the nature of the business.

658.4012
C884p
(BEL Reserves)

 The Prentice Hall Encyclopedia of Model Business Plans Provides background information about planning, suggests helpful and reliable resources, provides working models and examples of all phases of effective business planning.
658.4012
C838c
(BEL Reserves)		 The Complete Book of Business Plans Provides powerful guidelines to writing a winning business plan, 101-plus question for success, sample business plan, and the vision of writing your business plan.
UIUC Online Research Resources Small Business Resource Center Provides powerful guidelines to writing a winning business plan, sample business plans, business topics, business types, and additional information on how to start a business, how to finance a business and more. This includes help with the vision of writing your business plan.
WWW OWL Professional Writing Handouts and Resources This collection of handouts will provide you with information about various aspects of business, technical, and professional writing. We also have some PowerPoint presentations about aspects of professional writing and a resume workshop, a cover letter workshop, and a research report workshop that you may wish to visit.
WWW Writing that Works If you write, edit and manage business communications for a living, you've come to the right site -- WritingThatWorks.com. We hope you'll find the Writing That Works and APEX Awards Web site informative, useful and easy to navigate.
WWW Business Communication from WritersWrite(R) Welcome to our specialty section for business communications. This section provides resources for business writing, copywriting, editing, marketing, public relations, proposal writing and other forms of business communications.
WWW Online Resources from the University of Washington Business Writing Center This page offers links to a number of useful writing and style guides, as well as many other online resources.
WWW Style & Writing Guides Resources for proper grammatical usage, citation formats, or paper writing.
WWW Good Documents -- Intranet Business Writing A web-site that discusses how to create good business documents in the linked, on-screen environment of Intranets and the Internet.
WWW Online Supplements for Locker and Kaczmarek's "Business Communication: Building Critical Skills"

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Last Updated: Saturday, 05-Apr-2008 14:39:06 CDT by DS