ECONOMIC INDICATORS: Numerous economic statistics that provide valuable information about the expansions and contractions of business cycles. These economic statistics are grouped into three sets--lagging, coincident, and leading. Leading economic indicators tend to move up or down a few months BEFORE business-cycle expansions and contractions. Coincident economic indicators tend to reach their peaks and troughs AT THE SAME TIME as business cycles. Lagging economic indicators tend to rise or fall a few months AFTER business-cycle expansions and contractions. See also | business cycles | expansion | contraction | leading economic indicator | lagging economic indicator | coincident economic indicator | Bureau of Labor Statistics | Federal Reserve System |
