This volume investigates the economic health, production capacity, and market trends of various industrial sectors within the United States during the late 1980s. Compiled by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the text utilizes government-collected data to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the American industrial landscape. It serves as a diagnostic tool for understanding the competitive positioning of domestic manufacturing and service industries at the close of the decade.

Researchers and historians frequently utilize this text as a primary source for understanding the economic climate of the United States in the late 1980s. Experts note that the data provides a granular, albeit dated, baseline for tracking the evolution of American industrial policy and market shifts.