Library Guides: International Trade Data: Historical Data

US Sources -- Online

Historical Statistics of the United States: Millennial Edition This link opens in a new window
Level of detail varies. There is some commodity information as well as aggregate statistics.
Compilation of over 37,000 statistical series from over 1,000 sources. All tables include citations to data sources and descriptions of data anomalies. Each major section includes a signed essay that puts the statistics in historical context.

US Sources -- Print

The US Bureau of the Census published detailed statistics on imports and exports prior to the advent of computerized databases. The titles change over time but the series are shelved in Regenstein B-level bookstacks in the general call number range of HF 105.C95
The Guide to Trade Statistics, call number HF105.A625, can help identify titles, but it was first published in 1967.

Foreign Trade titles from the Census
A list of titles by call number that gives a sense of the variations

Commercial Relations of the United States with Foreign Countries
Covers 1855-1912
In print in Regenstein Bookstacks, call number HF 105.B3. Yearly editions are in HathiTrust and ProQuest Congressional and are linked from the Library Catalog

Commercial Relations of the United States catalog search

International Data -- Starting Point

International Historical Statistics This link opens in a new window
Contains aggregate data, beginning as early as 1750.
International Historical Statistics; updated to 2010 wherever possible, it provides key economic and social indicators for the last 260 years. You may download in pdf and excel formats.

Other Sources for International Data

League of Nations Publications

1910-1945 are covered in a series on Balances of Payments and Foreign Trade
Regenstein Bookstacks, call number HF 1014.A2L5

United Nations Publications

Yearbook of international trade statistics
Title changes to "International trade statistics yearbook", but the call number remains the same