Information in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: August 2024
NAICS 51Revenue
$2.4tr
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XXX.Xbn
Employees
4m
Businesses
467k
Wages
$XXX.Xbn
Information in the US industry analysis
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 advertising expenditure, which generates nearly one-fourth of sector revenue, as well as consumer incomes and spending habits, which affect 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, the 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 2024, sector revenue will expand at a CAGR of 2.7% to reach $2.4 trillion, including a boost of 1.9% in 2024.
Trends and Insights
- Macroeconomic trends are a big driver for growth in the Information sector. As more households and businesses are formed, they're subscribing to telecommunications and processing services, boosting the sector's expansion.
- Telecommunications is struggling amidst changing consumer preferences. Younger households are ditching large cable packages and wired telephony, pushing the industry to adapt more to mobile and 5G technologies.
- Establishments in the Information sector tend to follow the distribution of the US population. Telecommunications companies represent a large chunk of the Information sector, and they must maintain offices and retail locations across the country to serve household customers.
- A major basis of competition for the Information sector is the mode and medium through which content is delivered. For example, online content publishers have competed by providing content much more quickly and at a lower cost than legacy media.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.4tr in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Tech titans flourish amid pandemic-driven digital boom
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digitization of many sectors, including the information sector. As businesses and educational institutions shifted to remote work and online learning, the demand for robust digital infrastructure and services skyrocketed.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Tech evolution sparks surge in internet demand, cloud services, and digital media
- As society increasingly relies on digital networks, the demand for internet services is set to soar. Fiber optic technology will boost connection speeds, addressing the heightened need for reliable broadband following the pandemic. While 5G mobile services may challenge traditional ISPs, the industry will thrive as more individuals shift significant aspects of their lives online.
Biggest companies in the Information in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
At&T Inc. | 172,806.1 | 16,428.9 | 9.5 | |
Verizon Communications Inc. | 136,934.6 | 34,011.3 | 24.8 | |
Alphabet Inc. | 95,957.5 | 26,311.6 | 27.4 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Telecommunications, Software publishing and Data processing and web publishing. Telecommunications is the largest segment of the Information in the US.
Trends and Insights
Telecommunications is the backbone of the sector
- Telecommunications generates significant revenue by providing essential services such as mobile and landline telephony, internet connectivity and data hosting. Revenue streams also include subscription plans, usage fees and value-added services like voicemail and messaging.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- There are no industries to display.
International industries
- Global Internet Service Providers
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The Information sector includes businesses that produce and distribute information and cultural products, as well as provide the means for their distribution or process data. The sector includes telecommunications, data processing and hosting, print, online and software publishing, film, TV and record production and distribution, as well as TV and radio stations and networks. The sector does not include live entertainment.
What's included in this industry?
Providing telecommunication servicesData processing and web publishingSoftware publishingAudio and video production and distributionPrint publishingPay TV programmingBroadcastingCompanies
At&T Inc.Verizon Communications Inc.Alphabet Inc.Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
BROADBANDBUNDLED SERVICESCIRCULATIONCLOUD COMPUTINGINTERNET PROTOCOLLONG-TERM EVOLUTION (LTE)OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE (OSS)SOCIAL NETWORKSOFTWARE AS A SERVICE (SAAS)VIDEO-ON-DEMAND (VOD)Industry Code
NAICS 51 - Information in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Macroeconomic trends are a big driver for growth in the Information sector. As more households and businesses are formed, they're subscribing to telecommunications and proces...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Telecommunications is struggling amidst changing consumer preferences. Younger households are ditching large cable packages and wired telephony, pushing the industry to adapt...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Establishments in the Information sector tend to follow the distribution of the US population. Telecommunications companies represent a large chunk of the Information sector,...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
A major basis of competition for the Information sector is the mode and medium through which content is delivered. For example, online content publishers have competed by pro...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
There are many companies operating in the Information sector, representing a wide range of industries. The largest companies by market share that dominate specific industries...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of At&T Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Verizon Communications Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Alphabet Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for At&T Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Verizon Communications Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Alphabet Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Despite inflation and economic challenges, total advertising expenditure is on the rise. Companies are investing more in promotional campaigns to capture a bigger slice of co...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Software publishers have the highest profit because once a product is developed, there is little marginal cost in reproducing and distributing it. Print publishers operate wi...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
- Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
- Income Statement (2017-2022)
- Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Information in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Information in the US industry in United States is $2.4tr in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Information in the US industry in 2024?
There are 467k businesses in the Information in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Information in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Information in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.7 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Information in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Information in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Information in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Information market in United States are At&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Alphabet Inc.
What does the Information in the US in United States include?
Providing telecommunication services and Data processing and web publishing are part of the Information in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Information in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is At&T Inc..
How competitive is the Information in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Information in the US industry in United States.
