Key Economic Indicators
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Issued by: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequency: Monthly
Explanation: Measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services, serving as a primary indicator of inflation.
Unemployment Claims (Initial and Continuing)
Issued by: U.S. Department of Labor
Frequency: Weekly
Explanation: Provides timely insight into labor market conditions through new filings for unemployment benefits and those receiving ongoing benefits.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth
Issued by: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Frequency: Quarterly, with monthly estimates
Explanation: Measures the increase in value of all goods and services produced by the economy, indicating overall economic activity and health.
Producer Price Index (PPI)
Issued by: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequency: Monthly
Explanation: Tracks the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output, indicating wholesale level inflation.
Retail Sales
Issued by: U.S. Census Bureau
Frequency: Monthly
Explanation: Measures total receipts of retail stores, offering insights into consumer spending patterns.
Nonfarm Payrolls
Issued by: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequency: Monthly
Explanation: Counts the number of jobs added or lost in the economy, excluding certain classifications, reflecting labor market health.
Federal Reserve's Interest Rate Decisions
Issued by: Federal Reserve
Frequency: Approximately every six weeks
Explanation: Announcements on monetary policy, including interest rate decisions, influencing economic activity and investor sentiment.
Housing Starts
Issued by: U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Frequency: Monthly
Explanation: Measures new residential construction projects that have begun, indicating the housing market's health.
Consumer Confidence Index (CCI)
Issued by: The Conference Board
Frequency: Monthly
Explanation: Assesses the degree of consumer optimism about the overall state of the economy and personal financial situation.
Durable Goods Orders
Issued by: U.S. Census Bureau
Frequency: Monthly
Explanation: Measures new orders placed with domestic manufacturers for hard goods, providing insights into manufacturing health.
Business Confidence Index (BCI)
Issued by: Various institutions (e.g., National Association for Business Economics, Conference Board)
Frequency: Monthly or quarterly, depending on the institution
Explanation: Gauges the level of optimism or pessimism among business leaders about the future economic environment, which can influence investment and employment decisions.
Financial Conditions Indexes (FCI)
Issued by: Various financial institutions and central banks
Frequency: Monthly or quarterly
Explanation: Composite indexes that measure the ease of financing conditions in the economy, including interest rates, credit spreads, and bank lending standards, offering insights into the availability of credit for businesses and consumers.