Q. Where would I find retails sales, by category, in each parish?

Sorry, don't know how that happened, but sent you an answer to the question that was just above you in the queue.

The kind of data you are talking about can sometimes be tricky to find.  Sometimes it just doesn't exist in the first place. This happens in both really competitive markets, where the info is carefully guarded, and in really small ones (like most of LA) where there's just not enough interest to create detailed reports.  When it is actively collated, a lot of times the most recent data sits behind paywalls as industry association reports.  That's probably your best place to start, looking at industry associations to see if they have any ready made reports.

To access our databases, you'll need your library card to access most of these resources in the business section of our digital library.  You can find our digital library here: http://www.ebrpl.com/digitallibrary/

The most precise place to start would be to go to Reference USA.   You can get very specific with the kind of data you're interested at very localized levels, zipcode and even census blocks.  In this database, you would use the USBusiness section by using the NAICS and SIC codes, but you can also look up the information via YP Headings (Like in the Phone Book) but this method will involved a lot of leg work.

Next, I would try Statista.  Statista has 15 statistical reports for Baton Rouge and 728 for Louisiana.  You may find some relevant information there.

There is also a database in there called Regional Business Reports.  This is a basically a conglomeration of newspaper articles about businesses takes from local papers.   You can find references and sometimes reprints and numbers from quarterly reports here.

Outside of our resources you have a couple of places to go to for ready made data:

The Census Bureau is a good start, but the information will be dated

http://www.census.gov/econ/geo-county.html

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center has a page dedicated to helping people find reports:

https://www.lsbdc.org/resources/?cat=28

The Labor of Bureau Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.la.htm

Finally, you may want to contact Score.  They're small business entrepreneurship mentoring group.   They may have some more resources and advice to help guide you.

http://batonrougearea.score.org/

Let us know if we can be of any further assistance.