Need to know prospects for your industry? To get the big picture start with industry surveys or analysis reports. Use news from industry and trade associations to learn more about product lines. Find benchmarks for firms within your industry by looking at financial ratios compiled by accountants and economists.
Trade Associations are a wealth of information on their industry. Some associations have a great deal of information on their websites. Other associations will sell information to you. To find the appropriate trade associations use the online directory below:
Ratios can be used to evaluate a company, compare it to other companies, or measure its performance against its industry norms.
Books in Reference Collection:
Almanac of Business & Industrial Financial Ratios--(HF5681 .R25 A45)--Industrial financial ratios
RMA Annual Statement Studies--(HF5681 .B2 R6)--Industrial financial ratios by asset size.