Economic IndicatorsCode: 20-ECONIND

Economic indicators are those often-voluminous statistics released by government agencies, non-profit organizations and even private companies. They provide measurements for evaluating the health of our economy, including the latest business cycles, consumer spending, inflation, housing, and so on. Various economic indicators are released quarterly, monthly, weekly, and even daily.

This course provides an introductory overview of the world's most prevalent economic indicators, including those related to unemployment, consumer sentiment and confidence, inflation, productivity, housing, manufacturing, and international trade. This course reviews the impact that changes in these indicators have on the financial markets and monetary policy.

Learning Objectives 

After completing this course, participants should be able to:

• Identify the types of economic indicators that exist and recognize the unique characteristics of each type.

• Recognize the characteristics and economic impact of key economic indicators, including those related to unemployment, consumer sentiment and confidence, inflation, productivity, housing, manufacturing, and international trade.

• Identify the components of gross domestic product (GDP) and recognize how economic indicators impact these components.

• Recognize how changes in economic indicators and the actions of the Federal Reserve impact financial market activity.