US Industry Sectors

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The US is one of the most technologically advanced economies in the world, coming in 10th in the Global Innovation Index and 12th for the World Bank’s Knowledge Economy Index. As such, they also lead the world in industries such as manufacturing and finance, and are among the top three nations in industries such as commercial aircrafts and automobiles production.


The US is one of the most technologically advanced economies in the world, coming in 10th in the Global Innovation Index and 12th for the World Bank’s Knowledge Economy Index. As such, they also lead the world in industries such as manufacturing and finance, and are among the top three nations in industries such as commercial aircrafts and automobiles production.

Despite remaining at the forefront of most industries, the 2008 financial crisis significantly weakened a number of US industries as well. 2008 to 2010 saw three years of negative industrial production growth rate for the US. At the same time other countries such as China, Japan and the EU have caught up and overtaken the US in numerous industries. China, for example, is now the leader in coal, lettuce, rice, pork, beer and wind energy production as well as high technology exports.

US Industry Sectors

Agriculture and the industrial sector made up 1.2 percent and 19.1 percent of US’s GDP in 2012 respectively. This percentage can be relatively deceiving. The US is not only the third largest agricultural producer in the world behind China and India, but is also the leading industrial power in the world.

Agriculture is a vital part of US economy and society. According to the last census of agriculture in 2007, there were 2.2 million farms in the US – covering an area of 922 million acres. Farmers are also one of the major political lobbyists in the US as they are primarily responsible for the country’s food demands. Among US agricultural products include wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; and forest products.

The industrial sector on the other hand is highly diversified and technologically advanced; comprising of industries such as petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber and mining. As of 2010, the country remains the world’s largest manufacturer, representing a fifth of the global manufacturing output. Due in part to the shale boom in recent year, the U.S. is also the world’s third-largest producer of oil and second-largest producer of natural gas.

Finally, services constituted 79.7 percent of the US GDP. The US is home to the largest and most influential financial markets in the world including major stock and commodities exchanges like NASDAQ, NYSE, AMEX, CME, and PHLX. The NYSE alone is more than three times larger than any other stock market in the world. 

Read more about the US economy, including industry information, featured analysis and trade statistics below.

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