Need Data

Does anyone know how I might go about finding aggregate operating (or net) profit margins for durable and nondurable manufacturing sectors for 1987-2008?

Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios

Which region you are focusing on? If its US, you can check on census, you will definitely get sales figure and you can get profit as well, look for SIC codes… For global figures, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) might be helpful…

do you have bloomberg access?

Yeah, I got access to bloomberg, but the data is not exactly easy to find in the form of profit margins. Earnings are given, but margins not. I think the Almanac is the winner. They got a copy at the library. Thanks dude.