Entrepreneurship

Census and business demographic data.

The Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) program provides data on expenditures, income, and demographic characteristics of consumers in the United States. The CE program provides these data in tables, databases, news releases, reports, and public use microdata files. CE data are collected by the Census Bureau for BLS in two surveys, the Interview Survey for major and/or recurring items and the Diary Survey for more minor or frequently purchased items.

This guide provides links to databases, reference sources, and Web sites that are useful in researching industry conditions. Some small business industry sectors are less well covered by standard sources, so it is possible that only some of the listed industry resources will be useful.

This guide directs you to useful sources on consumer spending, consumer lifestyles and attitudes, population or business demographics, and market research.

Sources listed in this guide can be used to research competitors. If your potential competitors are private companies, it will be more difficult to find information on them.