PSCD Training

Trade -- Online Sources for Contemporary Periods

Direction of Trade Statistics

Ø Produced by the International Monetary Fund

Ø Reports imports and exports by trading partners.

Ø Earliest annual data: 1948

Ø Earliest monthly/quarterly data: 1960

Ø Values in U.S. dollars

Ø Available electronically via DRI University Program

Ø Methodology: See the periodic report Guide to Direction of Trade Statistics {(SXF) HF1007.D632 1993

Ø Paper equivalent:

Direction of Trade Statistics Quarterly. (various titles)

§ 1960+

§ HF1007.D63 (Current Issues in SSRC (Stack 2); IIS (3840-P4) (Microforms)

§ Many of the series are cumulated in Direction of Trade Statistics Yearbook [HF1007.D631; CV - SXF Ready Ref; IIS 3840-S1].

§ Prior to 1960, data was contained in International Financial Statistics.

World Trade Analyzer

Ø Produced by Statistics Canada. International Trade Division and based primarily upon data reported by member countries of the United Nations Statistical Office

Ø Broken down by partner country and commodity

Ø Data are annual and the records extend over the period, 1980-Present (latest data is currently 2001).

Ø Values in US dollars, percent changes, and shares of market

Ø Available via the WEB but must be installed on computer http://www.princeton.edu/~econlib/WTAinstall.htm

United Nations Comtrade Database

Ø Produced by the United Nations Statistical Division

Ø 1962+

Ø Provides selected trade series from 30 specialized international data sources for all available countries and areas recognized by the United Nations using SITC (Rev. 1-3) and HS codes (1992, 1996, 2002)

Ø For a listing of countries and commodities along with definitions and sources, see the guide from UN Comtrade.

For a more comprehensive listing of trade resources, see International Trade Statistics: A Guide to Selected Resources.

Bobray Bordelon 3/23/2004