I am doing a paper on abstractors and our industry.  I need some statistical data and am having a terrible time finding supporting information.  I'd like to get a range of fees, say just on full searches, for the past ten years.  Also employee salary ranges for the same period.  The other information I'm missing is annual revenues/expenses...same period.  The paper is for an economics class, but I've promised Robert I'd give it to him to print in the NALTEA newsletter as he sees fit.  All data will be used without reference to any particular company, but may be cited on a regional basis.  Also, decreases in fees and annual revenues would be interesting to include as well, particulary if you can support a reason why.  I have my own opinions, but for now they are just opinions.

Does anyone have any idea where I can go other than the BLS for some additional statistical data?  ALTA wamts $130 for their report, so I won't be using that unless someone else has it and is willing to share.

FYI:  Nationally, average salary is $16.88, or $35k ish per year.  Approximately 55,000 were employed in the industry in 2002, 61,000 employees in 2004, and a decrease of 2.7% (from 2002 levels) is expected by 2012.  Everywhere I look cites that entry requires an apprenticeship of one to two years, which I thought was interesting...of course we knew that already didn't we.

Thanks for your help!

Lynn Hammett
Capitol Title & Research Services, Inc.