Market research companies have benefited from research and development (R&D) expenditure growth as companies develop new products to satisfy consumer demand. Downstream companies continue to rely on market research to create new products and campaigns that fit evolving consumer preferences. As companies strive to enhance consumer-centric strategies amid increased consumer spending, demand for tailored market research solutions has surged. A 10.7% surge in corporate profit over the past five years enabled businesses to outsource more of their research operations to professional market researchers. The digital shift has further transformed the landscape, with companies pioneering new research tools to tap into the vast potential of big data to enhance accessibility and participation. These trends have led to revenue growing at a CAGR of 3.8% to an estimated $36.4 billion over the past five years, including an estimated 2.1% boost in 2025 alone. Consumers' and advertisers' growing reliance on the internet has led to new metrics market researchers can use to better understand consumers. These have allowed new companies to enter the industry and driven providers to adjust services and implement new technologies. The rising use of social media to advertise and market new products across platforms like TikTok and Instagram also contributed to the growing demand for market research. These technological advancements improved data collection and analysis methods, offering actionable insights that helped companies refine marketing strategies and develop better products. New opportunities continue to drive revenue growth, but expansions to services and onboarding of new technology cut researchers’ profitability. Moving forward, the industry will benefit from acceleration in R&D budgets and technological and a data procurement evolution. Companies will strengthen their R&D budgets as economic conditions improve, further driving demand for advanced market research tools. The proliferation of online commerce and smart technologies will give researchers unprecedented access to consumer data. Technological developments, such as artificial intelligence (AI), are poised to create new metrics based on human reactions, which companies can leverage to better understand consumer behavior and preferences. Access to these metrics, however, will lead to tightening data privacy regulations, which may result in higher compliance costs that eat into profitability. Finally, growing emphasis on ethical practices, transparency and data security will shape consumer trust and research standards, creating new opportunities and challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Revenue is poised to grow at a CAGR of 2.4% to an estimated $41.0 billion through the end of 2030.

The Company Research Services industry is composed of businesses that conduct research on management teams, strategic developments and the financial operations of companies in the private and public sectors. Company research services are predominantly catered toward financial institutions, such as asset managers, bankers, equity traders and sales departments. As a result, demand for company research services is tied to corporate profit and research budget levels. For much of the past five years, growth in both corporate profit and the number of businesses in the United States have fueled industry growth. Uncertainty in financial markets can also drive new demand for research services, as companies seek out additional information before making investments in the business environment. Consequently, industry revenue is projected to expand at a CAGR of 2.2% to $2.1 billion over the five years to 2023. Meanwhile, as corporate profit has increased, industry companies have been able to increase prices, supporting their own profit growth.While the past five years have overall been positive for the Company Research Services industry, industry operations were briefly disrupted in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic halted the US economy. Stringent safety restrictions and massive uncertainty caused corporate profit to fall, as many companies had to limit capital expenditures to avoid bankruptcy. Uncertainty fell as the pandemic passed in 2021, leading to higher spending from downstream markets. After a bumpy 2022 due to economic uncertainty, growth is expected to resume in 2023, with revenue expected to rise an estimated 3.1% in the year.The industry is expected to see continued strength over the five years to 2028. The industry is expected to benefit from growing demand from the finance and insurance industries, which account for the largest share of revenue. In particular, heightened regulation regarding risk management will prompt companies to invest in company research that will better inform decisions. Marketing services are also expected to expand over the five years to 2028 as companies develop tools to help corporate sales teams expand operations. Overall, industry revenue is expected to rise at an annualized rate of 1.8% to $2.3 billion over the five years to 2028.

Market Size statistics on the Market Research industry in the US

The Information sector creates and distributes media content to US consumers and businesses. The Information sector responds to trends in household formation, which influences subscription volumes to communications services and advertising expenditure, generating nearly one-fourth of sector revenue. Also, consumer incomes and spending habits influence the extent to which households purchase discretionary entertainment products. The Information sector also sells some products and services directly to businesses and is influenced to a lesser extent by trends in corporate profit and business sentiment. The accelerated pace of digital transformation has fueled industry growth. As remote work and online learning became the norm, demand for robust digital infrastructure and cloud services skyrocketed. This shift wasn't limited to cloud services alone; internet providers flourished, spurred by the advent of 5G technology. Through the end of 2025, sector revenue will expand at a CAGR of 2.4% to reach $2.5 trillion, including a boost of 2.0% in 2025 alone. Although consumer demand for media is generally steady and the Information sector has expanded consistently, revenue flows within the sector are uneven and determined by technology trends. Substantial expansion through the end of 2025 has stemmed from a proliferation of new consumer devices. However, most of the expansion has been concentrated on online publishing and data processing at the expense of more traditional information subsectors. For example, new digital channels have detracted from print advertising expenditures, which have declined during the current period and contributed to the curtailment of print publishing. The expansion of mobile devices and the emergence of online streaming services have made consumers less reliant on traditional communication services, such as wired voice, broadband internet and cable TV. Looking ahead, the information sector is poised for sustained growth over the next five years, fueled by rising consumer spending and private investment. As the economy recovers and interest rates stabilize, disposable incomes are poised to climb, allowing households to avail themselves of more digital subscriptions and services. The rollout of 5G will further augment mobile internet usage, potentially challenging wired broadband alternatives. Traditional media companies will continue to shift their focus to online platforms and streaming services, aiming to retain and expand their audience. Through the end of 2030, the Information sector revenue will strengthen at a CAGR of 2.4% to reach $2.8 trillion.

Scientific research and development (R&D) facilities have enjoyed significant growth over the past five years as the mix of accelerating medical innovation, new global conflicts and push to advance medical treatments provided a diversified demand niche for the industry. Skyrocketing corporate profit, which boosted 6.3% over the past five years, enabled private companies to massively increase their budgets for R&D. New conflicts in the Middle East and Europe generated a wider range of defense capability needs, causing public sector clients to contract R&D companies at a more rapid pace to advance research on weapons systems and military equipment. A robust push toward sustainability across clients’ product stream further advanced new technological research in facets such as biomedical treatments. In light of these trends and an acceleration of technological adoption, revenue spiked at a CAGR of 4.9% to an estimated $320.9 billion over the past five years, including an anticipated 3.1% boost in 2025 alone. The federal government is the largest and most consistent source of revenue, so changes in federal funding levels greatly affect servicers’ performance. Many R&D sites focus on military tech, so the Trump administration's support for defense spending brought on a surge revenue. While the Biden administration originally pushed for lower defense spending, serious conflicts involving the US's allies, namely Ukraine and Israel, have brought military innovation back to the forefront of budget discussions. Although revenue growth was strong, a rebound in wage expenditures following an inflationary spike has caused a slight slowdown in profit growth. Moving forward, scientific R&D companies will continue benefiting from anticipated growth in corporate profit and sector-wide support for new research projects. While still high at 4.3% as of February 2025, the eventual stabilization in interest rates will encourage new investment. The passing of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 will benefit research labs studying alternative fuels and clean energy through tax credits that encourage private investment. New technological advances, such as UAVs and EWs, will provide greater need for technically adept R&D companies that can help strengthen military equipment research and development for the future. Additionally, anticipated growth in overall research & development expenditure across the public and private sectors will provide more funding for R&D initiatives, creating a larger field of opportunity for new researchers. Overall, revenue is expected to boost at a CAGR of 3.2% to an estimated $375.7 billion over the next five years.

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Food trucks have seen significant growth over the last five years, cementing their position as a standout in the broad food services sector. Notably, this expansion is largely due to evolving consumer tastes shifting in favor of unique, gourmet cuisine offered at prices lower than those in traditional sit-down restaurants. The industry has thrived, with cities like Portland, LA and Austin passing regulations and establishing designated areas for this new wave of culinary delights. The industry revenue stayed resilient despite higher inflationary pressures. Therefore, industry revenue is expected to reach $2.8 billion, with an annualized growth rate of 13.2% over the five years to 2025. However, in 2025 alone, industry revenue is expected to marginally decline 0.2% due to higher tariffs that force most food truck vendors to raise their prices. Nevertheless, not all food truck industry vendors celebrate this success. City regulations, escalating competition, and minuscule profit margins are tripping up some. Food truck-specific laws are not uniform; they differ by city. These laws determine the working hours and conditions for the food trucks, often including specified distances from traditional brick-and-mortar establishments. Indeed, these restaurants often see the food trucks as direct competition and have rallied against the industry. Food trucks will still face significant challenges over the next five years. The most prominent are regulatory roadblocks, stunting industry growth. Parking and other concerns legislation remains a work in progress in many towns as they scramble to accommodate the wave of change. Nonetheless, rising household incomes and the growing interest in convenient yet affordable gourmet cuisine will fuel the industry's expansion. The projected revenue growth over the five years to 2030 is a CAGR of 0.3%, reaching $2.9 billion.

The Business Information Resellers industry has continued to grow as the need for market research has risen. Companies investing in product development typically invest in external information and analysis to ensure the success of perspective products. Business information resellers fill this gap, making money by gathering data, articles and research reports, then offering this content to clients, mostly through subscriptions. With research and development (R&D) on the rise across the economy, information access has become a hot commodity, strengthening core revenue channels for business information resellers. As a result, revenue is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% and is expected to reach $9.5 billion in 2025, including 11.5% in52024 alone.Business information resellers have thrived thanks to increased investment in R&D and advertising. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic triggered economic instability, the lingering uncertainty has fueled demand for their products. Recent uncertainty surrounding economic policy, namely tariffs, have had a similar effect. Software advancements have also simplified the process of obtaining and repackaging information, especially data. Additionally, favorable outsourcing trends have further bolstered their success. Consequently, profitability has continued to climb, nearing all-time highs.Robust growth in research and development spending will strengthen the core revenue channels for business information resellers, driving industry expansion. Additionally, rising total advertising expenditure and a growing percentage of online services will further enhance this growth. These trends will reshape the broader landscape, with more businesses seeking market information to fine-tune their advertising projects, particularly online. As major corporations continue to globalize, their information needs will become increasingly complex, boosting product development prospects. These positive developments are forecast to drive revenue grow at a CAGR of 1.4% to an estimated $9.5 billion. However, this growth will also intensify competition, pushing the industry toward further consolidation as smaller players get squeezed out of the fiercely competitive marketplace.

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Over the past five years, the social networking industry has undergone transformative growth, driven in part by the expansion of influencer marketing. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube have put millions of creators at the center of their strategies, recasting traditional advertising with authentic, personality-driven endorsements and native branded content. This shift has extended beyond just advertising: influencer-driven trends shape everything from product launches to platform algorithm changes, fostering both higher engagement and user retention for leading social networks. Revenue has been expanding at a CAGR of 14.3% over the past five years and is expected to reach $146.7 billion in 2025, when revenue will rise by an estimated 9.4%.​ One of the most significant trends reinforcing this performance has been the explosive popularity of short-form and ephemeral content. The success of TikTok and the following adoption of short video features across other platforms have fundamentally altered user preferences and engagement patterns. Short-form videos, favored for their immediate impact and ease of consumption, now elicit up to 2.5 times more engagement than traditional long-form formats. Ephemeral content, such as Instagram and Facebook stories, also amplifies engagement by creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity, leading brands and advertisers to embrace these formats as core elements of their marketing strategies. The prioritization of short-form and disappearing content in platform algorithms has not only reinforced user interaction but also simultaneously enhanced advertising effectiveness and deepened overall brand presence. Looking ahead, the industry is expected to enter a phase of maturation characterized by slower, yet steady, growth and intensifying competition. As mobile internet adoption plateaus and user growth stabilizes, companies will compete for attention and engagement, with a greater focus on user retention rather than acquisition. Capital-intensive investments, such as immersive digital environments, will allow major platforms to maintain an edge, but may marginalize smaller entrants. These conditions are set to reshape the social networking landscape over the next several years. Over the next five years, revenue is forecast to rise at a CAGR of 8.0%, reaching $215.9 billion in 2030.​

The Market Research and Statistical Services industry has performed poorly because of mixed demand across years for market research and related services. Industry revenue is anticipated to shrink at an annualised 1.3% over the five years through 2024-25, totalling $3.6 billion, with revenue falling by 1.5% in the current year. The overall revenue decrease can be attributed to mixed growth in prior years because of uncertainty and demand changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ABS funding volatility. Industry revenue displays significant volatility from year to year, mainly because of fluctuations in ABS funding by the Federal Government. As the next census is set to occur in 2026, ABS revenue over the past two years has been constrained. Some companies that previously used industry businesses have been increasingly performing market research and statistical analysis in-house. Many external companies have improved their technology and data collection capabilities, which has made it more cost-effective to perform these activities internally. While the introduction of artificial intelligence has provided cost-cutting opportunities for market research businesses, it has also encouraged clients to bring industry services in-house, reducing demand. Profitability has also waned because of heightened price competition and wage costs increasing as a share of revenue. Ongoing growth in online media and big data presents both challenges and opportunities for market research businesses. Mounting demand for research and statistics relating to new media audience numbers and advertising effectiveness represents a potential opportunity. Even so, market research businesses will face challenges in developing effective measurement systems, and competition from information technology specialists that are developing similar systems will intensify. Despite these challenges, industry revenue is forecast to increase at an annualised 2.0% through 2029-30 to reach $3.9 billion.

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