Essential Business Analyst Vocabulary data provides terms and descriptions for the 2015/2020 US dataset as well as the current Canadian dataset.
US Edition
2015/2020 Data
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
Age | Age data is reported for five-year age groups and select summary groups such as 18 years and over. This data is Esri's 2015 projections. |
Average household size | Average household size is calculated by dividing the number of persons in households by the number of households. |
Business data | The Esri business data is extracted from a comprehensive list of businesses licensed from Infogroup. Infogroup collects information on approximately 13 million private and public U.S. companies. Individual businesses are located by address geocoding-not all will have an exact location. Businesses can be retrieved by their Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code as well as by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code and location. The Infogroup Business File can be used for locating both competitors and marketing opportunities. This data is current as of January 2015. |
Census block | A census block is a component of a block group, identified by a four-digit code. Blocks are small in area, in general, especially in cities. However, blocks in rural or remote areas may cover hundreds of square miles. A block code that starts with a zero indicates a water-only block. There are 6,920,391 blocks. |
Census block group | A block group is a collection of one or more blocks and a statistical division of a census tract, identified by a one-digit code. Block groups do not cross census tract, county, or state boundaries. In general, a block group is comprised of 600 to 3,000 residents. A zero block group code indicates a water-only BG. Boundary changes and code restructuring are reflected in the Census 2010 release. There are 217,210 block groups. |
Census tract | Census tracts are small statistical subdivisions of a county, with 1,200 to 8,000 residents typically. The boundaries are usually delineated by local committees, and do not cross county or state lines. Tracts are identified by a six-digit code, with an implied decimal between the fourth and fifth digit. Boundary changes and code restructuring are reflected in the Census 2010 release. There are 72,753 tracts. |
Consumer spending data | Esri has extracted demographic and economic data for households from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2012 and 2014 Consumer Expenditure (CEX) diary and interview surveys. Each year of data actually represents a series of independent, quarterly surveys that include approximately 7,500 households or consumer units. Data is combined from the 2011-2012 surveys to increase the sample size for analysis. Data represents total household expenditures in dollars. |
Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA) | Core Based Statistical Areas, which include metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, are comprised of one or more counties and are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). A metropolitan statistical area is affiliated with at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more inhabitants. A micropolitan statistical area is associated with at least one urban cluster of at least 10,000 people, but less than 50,000. There were no boundary, code or name changes made to CBSAs since the last release. The total number of CBSAs stands at 917, each identified by a five-digit code. The data update is current as of February, 2013. |
County | Counties are the primary legal divisions of a state, identified by a two-digit state FIPS code and a three-digit county FIPS code. There are 3,143 counties. |
Demographic data | The 2015 data include current-year estimates and five-year projections for key demographic data. Most data are available at census block group, census tract, county, state, U.S., CBSA, DMA, and ZIP Code levels of geography. Some exceptions:
The data update is current as of July 1, 2015. |
Designated Market Area (DMA) | Designated Market Areas are television markets defined by The Nielsen Company, revised on an annual basis. The current vintage is the 2014-2015 DMA definitions. The majority of DMAs are comprised of one or more whole counties, although a few include parts of counties. Boundary changes, but no name or code changes, are reflected in this release. There are 210 DMAs, each identified by a three-digit code. |
Diversity Index | The Diversity Index summarizes racial and ethnic diversity. The index shows the likelihood that two persons, chosen at random from the same area, belong to different racial or ethnic groups. The index ranges from 0 (no diversity) to 100 (complete diversity). For example, the diversity score for the United States is 59, which means there is a 59 percent probability that two people randomly chosen from the U.S. population would belong to different racial or ethnic groups. |
Families | Households in which one or more persons in the household are related to the householder (formerly, the head of the household) by birth, marriage or adoption. The census tabulates only one family per household. This data is from Census 2010 and Esri's 2015 projections. |
Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code | Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) for numeric codes used to identify states and counties. |
Hispanic origin | Defined by self-identification, Hispanic origin refers to ethnicity, not race. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. This data is from Census 2010 and Esri's 2015 projections. |
Home Value | The estimate of value is presented for total owner-occupied units. Home Value base is the sum of the home value distribution. This data is Esri's 2015 projections. |
Household | A household is an occupied housing unit. Household type is identified by the presence of relatives and the number of persons living in the household. Family households, with or without children, include married couples and other families—a male or female householder with no spouse present. Nonfamily households may be a group of unrelated persons or a single person living alone. This data is Census 2010 and Esri's 2015 and 2020 projections. |
Household income | See Income. |
Household income base | This is the sum of the household income distribution. |
Income | 2015 Income is a forecast of income for the calendar year 2014. Income amounts are expressed in current dollars, including an adjustment for inflation or cost-of-living increases. This data is Esri's 2015 and 2020 projections. |
Index | An index is the ratio of a local percent (rate) to a U.S. percent (rate) or other base. For example:
|
Market potential data | The Esri Market Potential database includes data for 5,000 items organized into 21 categories, representing goods, services, attitudes, and activities, collected by Mediamark Research Inc. (MRI) Doublebase 2013 database. Market potential data measures the likely demand for a product or service. The database is available in Business Analyst Standard (formerly called Premium). |
Median | This is a value that divides a distribution into two equal parts. A median is a positional measure that is unaffected by extremely high or low values in a distribution that may affect an average. |
Median age | Median age is calculated from the distribution of age by five-year groups. This data is Esri's 2015 projections. See Median. |
Median home value | This estimate divides the distribution of home values into two equal parts. Linear interpolation is used if the median home value falls below $1,000,000. If the median falls in the upper home value interval of $1,000,000+, it is represented by $1,000,001. |
Median household income | This is the value that divides the distribution of household income into two equal parts. Pareto interpolation is used if the median falls in an income interval other than the first or last. For the lowest interval, <$15,000, linear interpolation is used. If the median falls in the upper income interval of $200,000+, it is represented by the value of $200,001. |
Per capita income | This is the average income for all persons calculated from the aggregate income of persons 15 years and older. |
Population | This is the total number of residents in an area. Residence refers to the "usual place" where a person lives, which is not necessarily the legal residence. For example, college students are counted where they attend school. This data is Census 2010 and Esri's 2015 and 2020 projections. |
Race | Defined by self-identification, race detail from Census 2010 contains the six basic race categories are White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and "some other" race for persons who do not identify with one of the specified groups. Esri forecasts race for all single and multiracial populations that are consistent with 2010 Census tabulations. Data is from Census 2010 and Esri's 2015 projections. |
Rate, annual percent | This is calculated as an annual compound rate of change for population, households, families, and income. |
Shopping center data | Directory of Major Malls tracks information on over 7,000 major shopping centers and malls across the United States. The file used in Business Analyst includes all shopping centers with a gross leasable area (GLA) of approximately 225,000+ square feet and is current as of Feb 2015. Lifestyle/Specialty centers of any size are also included in this file as this classification of centers has recently become a primary focus in shopping center development. In addition, the data in Business Analyst contains the data for up to four anchor stores. |
State | States are identified by a two-digit FIPS code. The District of Columbia is included as a state-equivalent area in the Esri database. See FIPS code. |
Tapestry segmentation data | The Tapestry segmentation system provides an accurate, detailed description of America's neighborhoods. U.S. residential areas are divided into 67 segments based on demographic variables such as age, income, home value, occupation, household type, education, and other consumer behavior characteristics. |
ZIP Code | Created by the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail, ZIP Codes do not represent standard census geographic areas for data reporting. Because ZIP Code boundaries are not contiguous with census geographic areas or stable over time, data estimated for ZIP Codes are also subject to change. Residential ZIP Code data are estimated from block group data, using a correspondence file created by assigning Census 2010 block points to ZIP Code boundaries from Navteq. The vintage of the ZIP Code boundaries are from the USPS Q3 2014 inventory. The total number of residential ZIP Codes in this release is 31,778. |
Canadian Edition
2015/2010/2011/2018/2020/2025 Data
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
Age | Age data is reported for five-year age cohorts and select summary groups such as 15+, 65+ and 85+. |
Average household size | Average household size is calculated by dividing the number of persons in households by the number of households. |
Business data | The Esri Canada business data is extracted from a comprehensive list of businesses licensed from Infogroup. Infogroup collects information on approximately 1.4 million private and public Canadian companies. Individual businesses are located by address geocoding-not all will have an exact location. Businesses can be retrieved by their Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code as well as by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code and location. The Infogroup Business File can be used for locating both competitors and marketing opportunities. This data is current as of January 2015. |
Census data | Provided by Environics Analytics, the 2011 Adjusted Census includes all of the popular variables that analysts and marketers rely on from census profiles along with several important additional variables, including age and sex by single year of age, condo ownership, mortgages for houses versus condos and families by presence of children and age group. This database is enhanced by Environics Analytics' modellers to fill in missing data and correct for the effects of random rounding and suppression while maintaining a close relationship to the original Statistics Canada data. The result is a comprehensive set of demographic variables available for any geographic level-standard census and postal geographies or custom client areas. |
Census Divisions (CD) | Group of neighbouring municipalities joined together for the purposes of regional planning and manging common services (such as police or ambulance services). These groupings are established under laws in effect in certain provinces in Canada. For example, a census division might correspond to a county, to a or a regional district. In other provinces and the territories where laws do not provide for such areas, Statistics Canada defines equivalent areas for statistical reporting purposes in cooperation with these provinces and territories. CDs cover all the territory of Canada. |
Census Metropolitan Areas / Census Agglomerations (CMA / CA) | Area consisting of one or more neighbouring municipalities situated around a major urban core. A census metropolitan area must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more live in the urban core. A census agglomeration must have an urban core population of at least 10,000. CMA/CAs do not cover all the territory of Canada. |
Census Subdivisions (CSD) | Area that is a municipality or an area that is deemed to be equivalent to a municipality for statistical reporting purposes (e.g., as an Indian reserve or an unorganized territory). Municipal status is defined by laws in effect in each province and territory in Canada. CSDs cover all the territory of Canada. |
Census Tracts (CT) | Small, relatively stable geographic areas that usually have a population of 2,500 to 8,000. They are located in census metropolitan areas and in census agglomerations with an urban core population of 50,000 or more in the previous census. A committee of local specialists (for example, planners,health and social workers, and educators) initially delineates census tracts in conjunction with Statistics Canada. Once a census metropolitan area (CMA) or census agglomeration (CA) has been subdivided into census tracts, the census tracts are maintained even if the urban core population subsequently declines below 50,000. CTs do not cover all the territory of Canada. |
Demographic data | Provided by Environics Analytics, Demographic Estimates and Projections (DEP) includes current-year demographic estimates and projections for three, five and ten years into the future covering over 350 key variables for 56,204 ,census dissemination areas and for six-digit postal codes (FSALDUs. It also provides historical estimates from five years ago based on the same methodologies to ensure accurate trend analysis. DEP is created using innovative methods that combine econometric, demographic and geographic models and employs a variety of data inputs including the latest census, current economic indicators, post censal estimates from federal and provincial governments, immigration statistics and economic data like building permits. DEP features variables on population, family structure, household size and type, diversity, labour force participation and income-including both averages and distributions. |
Dissemination Areas (DA) | A dissemination block (DB) is an area bounded on all sides by roads and/or boundaries of standard geographic areas. The dissemination block is the smallest geographic area for which population and dwelling counts are disseminated. DBs cover all the territory of Canada. |
Diversity Index | The Diversity Index summarizes racial and ethnic diversity. The index shows the likelihood that two persons, chosen at random from the same area, belong to different racial or ethnic groups. The index ranges from 0 (no diversity) to 100 (complete diversity). For example, the diversity score for Canada is 59, which means there is a 59 percent probability that two people randomly chosen from the Canadian population would belong to different racial or ethnic groups. |
Families | Households in which one or more persons in the household are related to the householder (formerly, the head of the household) by birth, marriage or adoption. The census tabulates only one family per household. These data are contained in Adjusted Census 2011 and Environics Analytics' 2015 DEP. |
Federal Electoral Districts (FED) | A federal electoral district is an area represented by a member of the House of Commons. The federal electoral district boundaries used for the 2011 Census are based on the 2003 Representation Order. FEDs cover all the territory of Canada. |
Home value | The estimate of value is presented for total owner-occupied units. This data is Esri's 2015 projections |
Home value base | This is the sum of the home value distribution. |
Household | A household is an occupied housing unit. Household type is identified by the presence of relatives and the number of persons living in the household. Family households, with or without children, include married couples and other families-a male or female householder with no spouse present. Nonfamily households may be a group of unrelated persons or a single person living alone. These data are contained in Adjusted Census 2011 and Environics Analytics' 2015 DEP. |
Household income | See Income. |
Household income base | This is the sum of the household income distribution. |
Household Spend data | Provided by Environics Analytics, Household Spend (HS) provides current estimates of average annual expenditures for 240 categories of goods and services used by Canadian households—everything from mortgage payments, household furnishings and utilities to vitamins, mobile phones, footwear and games of chance. This wide-ranging database lets you analyze potential expenditures by both average dollars per household and total dollars spent for any geographic level—from the entire nation down to a small trade area—regardless of where a consumer made the purchase. HS is produced annually with dissemination area disposable income data from Environics Analytics’ DEP and PRIZM5 segment spending patterns based on a recent Survey of Household Spending conducted by Statistics Canada. |
Income | 2015 Income is a forecast of income for the calendar year 2013. Income amounts are expressed in current dollars, including an adjustment for inflation or cost-of-living increases. These data are contained in Environics Analytics' 2013 DEP. |
Index | An index is the ratio of a local percent (rate) to a benchmark percent (rate) or other base. For example:
|
Median | This is a value that divides a distribution into two equal parts. A median is a positional measure that is unaffected by extremely high or low values in a distribution that may affect an average. |
Median age | Median age is calculated from the distribution of age by five-year groups. These data are contained in Environics Analytics’ 2015 DEP. See Median. |
Median home value | This estimate divides the distribution of home values into two equal parts. Linear interpolation is used if the median home value falls below $1,000,000. If the median falls in the upper home value interval of $1,000,000+, it is represented by $1,000,001. |
Median household income | This is the value that divides the distribution of household income into two equal parts. Pareto interpolation is used if the median falls in an income interval other than the first or last. For the lowest interval, <$10,000, linear interpolation is used. If the median falls in the upper income interval of $500,000+, it is represented by the value of $500,001. |
Per capita income | This is the average income for all persons calculated from the aggregate income of persons 15 years and older. |
Population | This is the total number of residents in an area. Residence refers to the "usual place" where a person lives, which is not necessarily the legal residence. For example, college students are counted where they attend school. These data are contained in Adjusted Census 2011 and Environics Analytics' 2015 DEP. |
Postal Code (FSALDU) | A six-character alphanumeric combintation (ANANAN) assigned to one or more postal addresses in a specific delivery area (e.g. M4B 1G5). It is an integral part of every postal address in Canada which is used to identify the various processing/delivery facilities and post offices. |
Provinces (PR) | 'Province' and 'territory' refer to the major political units of Canada. From a statistical point of view, province and territory are basic areas for which data are tabulated. Canada is divided into 10 provinces and three territories. |
Rate, annual percent | This is calculated as an annual compound rate of change from 2011 to 2015 for population, households, and families.  |
Shopping center data | Provided by Environics Analytics, the Directory of Shopping Centres tracks information on over 2,300 shopping centre records and is produced annually by Rogers Publishing. It lists most shopping malls in Canada, along with data on the number of stores, floor area, anchor tenants, food courts and parking spaces. The Directory of Shopping Centres, which is updated annually and includes traditional and new format shopping centres, is a geocoded location database for mapping and other analytical applications. |
