Economic Indicators For Dummies

Part I: Figuring Out the Economy 7

Chapter 1: Introducing Economic Indicators 9

Chapter 2: Explaining Economic Jargon 21

Chapter 3: Understanding the Big Picture: The Economy and Its Footprints 45

Part II: Making Money, Spending Money: Employment and Consumer Indicators 65

Chapter 4: Counting Jobs and Unemployment 67

Chapter 5: Survey Says: Considering Consumer Sentiment, Confi dence, and Comfort 93

Chapter 6: Spreading the Wealth: Consumer Spending and the Economy 113

Part III: The Essence of Business: Product and Service Indicators 133

Chapter 7: GDP: The Whole Enchilada 135

Chapter 8: Following the Fed 161

Chapter 9: Profi ling Manufacturing: New Orders and Shipments 185

Chapter 10: Grappling with Economic Indexes 201

Chapter 11: Spending on Housing and Residential Construction 213

Part IV: Inflation, Productivity, Interest Rates, and Commodities: Oh My! 239

Chapter 12: Determining Infl ation's Economic Impact 241

Chapter 13: Taking a Closer Look at Productivity and Economic Growth 261

Chapter 14: Eyeing Business and Municipal Borrowing in the Bond Market 273

Chapter 15: Harvesting Commodity Data 289

Part V: International Intrigue: Indicators beyond the United States 309

Chapter 16: Trading with the United States 311

Chapter 17: Following Economies Worldwide 325

Chapter 18: Monitoring Emerging Economies 345

Part VI: The Part of Tens 353

Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Track the U.S. Economy 355

Chapter 20: Ten (Or So) Money-Making Tips You Can Use with Economic Indicators 361

Glossary 367

Index 375

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