FAQ: How do I find the costs of production for my company in the Shapiro Library?

We recommend three databases for gathering this information:  MarketLine, IBIS World, and Statistical Abstracts (ProQuest). 

• MarketLine (Explorer) has industry reports that can be very helpful for analyzing the factors of production. Once the database loads, click on the "Explorer" icon under Cross Industry Intelligence Centers. In the menu across the top of the page, click on "Reports," and then click on “Industry Profiles.” Search for your industry. You can view the report in your browser or download it as a PDF or Word document. Look for the section on Five Forces Analysis.

• IBIS World also has industry reports that will help you isolate what the inputs and outputs are. Again, you can search for a specific company and it should bring back the relevant industry report. Click on the Industry Performance tab and look especially at the Current Performance Section. You will see an inputs costs section. Inputs are also often mentioned under the Competitive Landscape and Major Companies tab.

• For specific costs on raw materials, please use the Statistical Abstract of the U.S. - ProQuest. For example, Section 14 has consumer price data from as far back as 1990 up until now. For example, table 756 has food retail prices of selected items from 1990-2017.

For additional assistance, please contact the Reference Desk:

• email: ask@snhu.libanswers.com
• chat: using the "Chat 24/7 with a Librarian" button at the top right corner of this page.