Researching Consumers
There are a variety of sources and strategies you can use to research your company's customers, including
- news articles
- market research reports
- open data sources (eg. Google's Dataset Search)
- government reports and statistics
Consumer Research: Canada
- 2016 CensusThe Census Program provides a statistical portrait of the country every five years.
- 2021 CensusThe Census Program provides a statistical portrait of the country every five years. Additional 2021 Census data will be released up until November 2022.
- BC StatsBC government statistics. Includes census data and profiles for BC municipalities and regional districts; population estimates and projections. Select "Census" or "Demography" under "Statistics by Subject" at the top.
- City of Vancouver. Census Local Area Profiles 2016Profiles for specific areas of Vancouver. Scroll down the page for links to the data in Excel.
- Focus on Geography Series, 2016 Census
Focusing on a selected geographic area, this product presents data highlights for each of the major releases of the 2016 Census. These data highlights are presented through text, tables and figures. A map image of the geographic area is also included in the product. - Statistics Canada. 2016 Census local area profilesCensus data for the City of Vancouver's 22 local planning areas, available in the City of Vancouver's Open Data Catalogue.
- Stats Canada: GeoSearchThis interactive mapping application makes it easy to find many places in Canada, see them on a map, and get the basic geographic and demographic data for those places.
Consumer Research: US
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Demographic DataDemographic statistics of the labor force and also includes the Consumer Expenditure Survey
- Consumer Credit DataReports outstanding credit extended to individuals for household, family, and other personal expenditures, excluding loans secured by real estate.
- Consumer SpendingReal personal income and consumer spending
- Earnings by Occupation and EducationContains information on the earnings of employed persons derived from the Current Population Survey
- Survey of Consumers (University of Michigan)UM's Institute for Social Research provides reports related to several survey projects including: index of current conditions, consumer expectations
- United States Census Bureau
Main source of data about the US and economy.
Trends: World
- AnswerThePublicAggregates popular searches on the internet by the public
- Consumer Barometer by GoogleA tool that helps you understand how people use the internet across the world.
- Pew ResearchProvides information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends shaping the United States and the world.
- Population Reference BureauProvides U.S. and world data on population, health, and the environment.
- Trend HunterTrendHunter leverages big data, human researchers and AI to identify consumer insights and deep dive opportunities for the world's most innovative companies.
- trendwatching.com. Trend Briefings.Tracks and summarizes consumer trends on a monthly basis
- YouGov ProfilesProvides demographic and psychographic data on self-identifying users or fans of different brands, as well as product types, media, and activities.
