Since 1979, professionals tracking the online content industry have relied on Business Information Markets for an accurate and unbiased inside look at the industry — from the latest mergers and acquisitions, to subscriber growth estimates, to the technology trends that are constantly reshaping the dynamic market for creating and distributing content to business professionals.

This report covers all business information services that provide content, delivered through proprietary online networks, the Internet and handheld wireless devices. It contains the market intelligence needed to evaluate current trends affecting the information industry, and to get an inside track on where future growth is forecast to occur.

No other report delivers as comprehensive and all-encompassing an overview and outlook, broken out by 10 major vertical segments: general news and research, financial, brokerage, credit, legal, tax, public records, health care, marketing and other online information services.

Business Information Markets 2008-2009 also includes more than 20 detailed company profiles of leading business/professional online content providers, such as Reed Elsevier, Dow Jones, Hoover’s, Reuters, WebMD and more.

Additional Information

Stamford, Conn. - May 11, 2009 - The global recession will lead to slower growth in online business information markets in 2009 as a bunker mentality takes hold across many of the vertical markets that drive demand for online services, according to the latest report from Simba Information, a leading media industry forecast and analysis firm.

Business Information Markets 2008-2009 provides market sizing, strategic and competitive analysis, forecasts and critical insight into the markets for financial, credit, current awareness news and research, marketing, legal, tax, public record and health information.

The business information market has been growing in the 5% to 7% range for the past several years. However, total revenue growth in 2009 is projected to come in at 2% to $45.9 billion, the lowest since these markets collectively posted 1.8% growth in 2004.

While the projected growth for 2009 may be a disappointment compared to prior years, the fact that the industry is still growing at a time when so many businesses are faltering is a good sign. As the information revolution advances, the emphasis has moved away from the mass delivery of data and the technology used to accomplish that to finding meaning in information. Business leaders, who have more information flying at them than ever before, need to drill down to find the bits of knowledge that will make a difference to their company’s bottom line. This transition creates opportunity for astute business information providers that can develop added-value solutions.

Therefore, the long term outlook is positive. Simba Information projects that the market will grow at a compound annual rate of 4.4% through 2012 reaching $53.5 billion.

The financial and marketing information segments account for 55.3% of the total market for online business information. Both segments continue to post healthy sales, with financial information recording $16 billion in 2008 and marketing $8.5 billion. However, Simba anticipates both segments will feel the brunt of the economic slowdown. Growth in financial information will slow to 1.3% in 2009 and marketing growth will slow to 2.4% in 2009.

The market for electronic health care information continues to be a bright spot, growing at a compound annual rate of 10.1% between 2006 and 2008. In health care, the use of PDAs is continuing to grow, and handhelds have become a necessity for clinicians who need immediate access to research and data.

The newly released Simba report provides an overview and financial outlook for business information markets based on specific research and analysis of the leading competitors and market performance in six industry verticals.