Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: The total value of goods and services produced within the borders of the United States, regardless of who owns the assets or the nationality of the labor used in producing that output. (In contrast, Gross National Product (GNP) measures the output of the citizens of ... read more

Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: An index designed to measure the change in price of a fixed market basket of goods and services. The market basket of goods and services is representative of the purchases of a typical urban consumer. The index is intended to measure pure price change only; attempts are made to ... read more

Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: An estimate of the number of payroll jobs at all nonfarm business establishments and government agencies. Information is also provided on the average number of hours worked per week and average hourly and weekly earnings. ... read more

Housing Starts
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: An estimate of the number of housing units on which construction was started. Starting construction is defined as excavation for the footings or foundation, or the first shovel of dirt to break ground. (In response to natural disasters such as Hurricane ... read more

Industrial Production/Capacity Utilization
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: An index designed to measure changes in the level of output in the industrial sector of the economy. The index is grouped by both products (consumer goods, business equipment, intermediate goods, and materials) and industry (manufacturing, mining, and utilities). ... read more

Retail Sales
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: An estimate of the total sales of goods by all retail establishments in the U.S. (Sales of services are not included.) Data are presented in nominal, or current, dollars, meaning they are not adjusted for inflation. However, the data are adjusted for seasonal, ... read more

Business Sales and Inventories
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: Total current-dollar sales and inventories for the manufacturing, wholesale, and retail sectors of the economy. Source: U.S. Department of Commerce; Bureau of the Census Frequency: Monthly Availability: About ... read more

Advance Durable Goods Shipments, New Orders and Unfilled Orders
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: Data on shipments, new orders, and unfilled orders, expressed in current dollars, for things such as primary metals, fabricated metals, electric generating equipment, nonelectrical machinery, information processing equipment, and transportation equipment, including ... read more

Light-Weight Vehicle Sales
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: Total unit sales and leases of domestic and imported new automobiles and light-weight trucks (up to 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight). Includes sales and leases to both consumers and businesses. Source: Not-seasonally-adjusted sales data: Ward's Automotive ... read more

Yield on 10-year Treasury Bond
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: The current market interest rate or yield on U.S. Treasury bonds maturing 10 years in the future. Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Frequency: Daily Availability: Daily data available in most major newspapers; daily, weekly, ... read more

S&P 500 Stock Index
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: One of several indices designed to measure changes in price of a broad array of stocks. Source: Compiled by Standard & Poors. Available in most major newspapers and several on-line market information sources. Frequency: Daily ... read more

M2
Economic Indicators - 17 April 2006
Definition: One measure of the nation's supply of money, defined as M1 (currency in circulation, demand deposits, travelers' checks, and other checkable deposits) plus noninstitutional money market funds and small time and savings deposits. ... read more