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Economic Indicators. economic indicator. A statistic about the economy. A llows analysis of economic performance and predictions of future performance. Include various indices, earnings reports, and economic summaries. . Conference Board Leading Economic Indicators.
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economic indicator A statistic about the economy. Allows analysis of economic performance and predictions of future performance. Include various indices, earnings reports, and economic summaries.
Conference BoardLeading Economic Indicators Average weekly hours, manufacturing Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance Manufacturers' new orders, consumer goods and materials Manufacturers' new orders, nondefense capital goods Building permits, new private housing units Stock prices, 500 common stocks Money supply, M2 Interest rate spread, 10-year Treasury bonds less federal funds Index of consumer expectations
What can these indicators tell us about the economy? • Stock Market • Bond Spreads • Unemployment • Auto/Housing Sales • Housing Starts • Consumer Confidence • Personal Savings Rate • Manufacturing Spending • Inventory
Leading Indicators • Change before thebusiness cycledoes • Important for investors • Predictors of the economy • Stock market
Indicators Lagging Coincidental • Changes a few quarters after overall economy • Unemployment • Numbers move at the same time as overall economy • Retail • Housing
Related to the Business Cycle Procyclic Countercyclic • Moves in the same direction as the economy • Inflation • Moves in the opposite direction of the economy • Unemployment
Major US Stock Indices • moneycentral.msn.com
Institute for Supply Management Index Measures manufacturing activity and is determined monthly based on five indicators: new orders, production, supplier deliveries, inventories, and employment.
Explain which type of indicator do you believe is most helpful. Why do you economists keep such statistical data on the economy? How do you suppose these indicators affect the average American, politicians, business people, or foreign investors?