LibGuides: Thinking Outside the "Box": Economic Indicators

Economic Indicators

This list is by no means comprehensive, but is intended to point you to the economic indicators frequently reported in the news.

Economic Indicators
This monthly publication is prepared by the Council of Economic Advisers for the Joint Economic Committee and is transmitted to Congress. It provides economic information on gross domestic product, income, employment, production, business activity, prices, money, credit, security markets, Federal finance, and international statistics.
Department of Commerce Economic Indicators
Collected by the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis, these monthly and quarterly economic indicators report on retail sales, personal income and spending, construction spending, new home sales, new residential construction, and foreign trade.
Bureau of Labor Statistics Economy at a Glance
Includes the unemployment rate, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI), and labor productivity.
Federal Reserve System Statistical Data
Statistics on household finances, such as consumer credit and household debt service and financial obligations ratios, money stock and reserve balances, interest rates, exchange rates, and bank assets and liabilities.
Economic Report of the President
Published annually by the Council of Economic Advisors and transmitted to Congress in February. This is a good source to easily find time-series economic data. The statistics section is preceded by a narrative on the state of the economy with analyses on current issues of interest.

U.S. Census Bureau Economic Indicators

Business and Industry Data

Economic Census
Detailed information on all industries except agriculture. The economic census is conducted every five years by the U.S. Census Bureau and is available via the American FactFinder platform, which also hosts U.S. Census and American Community Survey data. The last economic census was conducted in 2007.

General Sources for Government Data & Information

If you are trying to find statistics on a particular topic, i.e. national spending on healthcare, but aren't sure where to look, begin with the sources listed below. They allow you to browse statistics by topic and often will point you to the appropriate agency and/or publication.