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Market for Art Instruction

The market for fine arts instruction has grown quite substantially over the last decade or so. In 1997 there were 1,009 establishments in the United States engaged primarily in offering instruction in the fine arts. By 2007 that number had risen to 11,478. The Census Bureau’s definition of this industry is as follows: “This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in offering instruction in the arts, including dance, art, drama, and music.”

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 1997 and 2007
Market size: $388.5 Million and $3.25 Billion respectively
Source: “2007 Economic Census: Sector 61: Educational Services: Industrial Series: Preliminary Comparitive Statistics for the United States 2007 and 2002”, July 31, 2009, available online here. The data for 1997 were taken from the “1997 Economic Census.”
Original Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

Cement Made in Russia

The transition from the Soviet Union to the smaller Russian Federation was a tumultuous one for the society at many levels. On the economic front, it caused many Russian industries to whither for a time, even those concentrated within the old geographical boundaries of what is now the Russian Federation.

The shrinking of the Russian cement manufacturing capacity during this period can be seen clearly in the two year’s worth of market size data presented below. At its lowest point during the years from 1990 to 2009 the Russian annual cement production reached a nadir of 26 Million metric tons (Mt). The Russian cement market is now experiencing a sort of renaissance, according to the source, due in large part to the advantage it has with regard to its sizable energy reserves.

Geographic reference: Russian Federation
Year: 1990 and 2009
Market size: 85 Million Mt and 44 Million Mt respectively
Source: “Russian Cement Market: History and Outlook,” Global Cement Magazine, October 2010, page 44.

Language Schools

The size of the market for foreign language instruction has seen a significant rise in the United States over the last decade. This is likely the result of the growing globalization of economic activity. The size listed here is the size of the revenues obtained by establishments primarily engaged in the teaching of foreign languages, including sign language.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 1997 and 2007
Market size: $75.34 Million and $857.96 Million respectively
Source: “2007 Economic Census: Sector 61: Educational Services: Industrial Series: Preliminary Comparitive Statistics for the United States 2007 and 2002”, July 31, 2009, [Online] here as well as the “1997 Economic Census” data on the same industry.
Original Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

Driving Schools

The ability to drive an automobile is an important part of living in the United States. This is true everywhere other than a few large cities in which mass transit offers a practical option for getting around. Yet the training of young people to drive, which was once done by public schools, has been privatized. Slowly, school district by district this service has been outsourced to private firms and students in these districts must now pay a significant fee to be trained to drive.

In 1997 there were 56 establishments primarily engaged in offering automobile driving instruction in the United States. By 2007 that number had risen to 2,261 establishents. Businesses engaged in training truck drivers are not included in this number.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 1997 and 2007
Market size: $30.4 Million and $638.1 Million respectively
Source: “2007 Economic Census: Sector 61: Educational Services: Industrial Series: Preliminary Comparitive Statistics for the United States 2007 and 2002”, July 31, 2009, [Online] here as well as the “1997 Economic Census” data on the same industry.
Original Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

Raisins in Afghanistan

The Afghan raisin farming business is returning after being decimated several decades ago when war arrived in that country, disrupting everything. At its peak, Afghanistan produced 86,000 metric tons of raisins annually equivalent to 10% of the world production of the dried fruit. Today, the Afghan market represents 3% of the world’s production of raisins.

Geographic reference: Afghanistan
Year: 2008 and 2009
Market size: Approximately 27,500 metric tons each year.
Source: “New Hope for Afghan Raisin Farmers,” The New York Times, October 9, 2010, page B1.

Commercial Casinos

Commercial casinos represent just over a third of the total gambling and gaming industry (37%). Indian casinos—which are counted separately and are not part of the commercial casino market as presented here—are a somewhat smaller portion of the overall gaming business but still represent 28% of that market. The size of the commercial casino industry listed here includes deepwater cruise ships and other water borne casino operations.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2007
Market size: $34.41 Billion, Gross Gambling Revenue
Source: “Gaming Revenue: Current-Year Data,” available online here.
Original Source: Christiansen Capital Advisors LLC

Gambling & Gaming Business

Measuring the market for gambling and gaming is tricky because of the variety of activities covered. Some studies will include aspects of the gaming industry that other studies exclude, an example being state run lotteries. Consequently, one sees citations that vary greatly about the size of the gaming business.

The measurement presented here is from the American Gaming Association, a trade association and lobbying group with offices in Washington, DC. This market size is based on gross gambling revenues for all of the following gaming types: Card Rooms; Commercial Casinos; Charitable Games and Bingo; Indian Casinos; Legal Bookmaking; Lotteries, and Pari-mutuel Wagering.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2007
Market size: $92.27 Billion, Gross Gambling Revenue
Source: “Gaming Revenue: Current-Year Data,” available online here.
Original Source: Christiansen Capital Advisors LLC

Payroll Services

Over the decade from 1997 to 2007 companies involved in providing payroll services saw the market for those services increase greatly. The number of establishments offering these services in 1997 was 2,709 and they employed 316,425 people. In 2007 there were 4,842 establishments employing 549,594 people.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 1997 and 2007
Market size: $14.1 Billion and $28.7 Billion respectively
Source: “2007 Economic Census: Sector 54: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services”, December 4, 2009, [Online] here as well as the “1997 Economic Census” data on the same industry.
Original Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

Title Abstract and Settlement Services

Part of the real estate build up over the last decade or so can be seen in the substantial growth of title abstract and settlement offices in the United States. In 1997 there were 6,391 such companies and in 2007, right before the bursting of the real estate bubble, there were 8,013. The size of the market in terms of the work done and the revenues generated saw even greater growth over this period.

The Census Bureau’s definition of this industry reads as follows: “This U.S. industry comprises establishments (except offices of lawyers and attorneys) primarily engaged in one or more of the following activities: (1) researching public land records to gather information relating to real estate titles; (2) preparing documents necessary for the transfer of the title, financing, and settlement; (3) conducting final real estate settlements and closings; and (4) filing legal and other documents relating to the sale of real estate. Real estate settlement offices, title abstract companies, and title search companies are included in this industry.”

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 1997 and 2007
Market size: $3.49 Billion and $7.60 Billion respectively
Source: “2007 Economic Census: Sector 54: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services”, December 4, 2009, [Online] here, as well as the “1997 Economic Census” data on the same industry.
Original Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

IBD Drug Market

IBD stands for Irritable Bowl Disease. An estimated 1.2 million Americans suffer from IBD. Leading brand name drugs designed to treat this disease include Asacol HD, Shire Lialda, Shire Pentasa and Prometheus Entocort EC.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2009
Market size: $1.56 Billion
Source: “Santaris,” January 11, 2010.
Original source: IMS Health