Level: Beginner

A wide variety of economic indicators are used to measure everything from economic growth to changes in prices to unemployment and much more. Key economic indicators have a direct impact on the markets. The information economic indicators provide can help investors make informed decisions about their investments. Some indicators include Gross Domestic Product, Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, Retail Trade, Unemployment Rate, etc.

The Euro Money Supply lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. It specifically covers some of the most popular tools used by global central banks and governments to influence the supply of money. Historical examples suggests that money supply growth without commensurate productivity growth generates inflation.

The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. Inflation leads to constricted budgets, declining purchase power and problems planning expenses. Tracking the HICP is important because a significant element of economic analysis is evaluating how briskly or steadily prices are rising or falling.

The European Union building permits lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. As a capital-intensive industry with high interest rate sensitivity, real estate requires the coordination of many moving parts of the economy. Real estate is a major contributor to economic activity and if one of its contributing variables seems weak, it’s likely a sign of underlying economic weakness.

I’m senior economist Jose Torres for Interactive Brokers, in this lesson I’ll be explaining one of the leading economic indicators of the European Union’s economy: Retail Trade. The Retail Trade report measures the monthly change of retail sales volumes and turnover. The report provides details on sales activity by many business types. The major business … Continue reading European Union – Retail Trade

The Unemployment Rate lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. The unemployment rate is useful in analyzing the tightness of the labor market or the relative ease or difficulty in finding a job.

The European Union Employment lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. Tracking employment growth in the EU is important because it provides a powerful link to the economy’s productivity.

The GDP lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. GDP is the foundation of financial markets globally. Fast economic growth will likely lead to fast financial asset growth. Financial asset values won’t sustainably grow if GDP is declining.

The Manufacturing-PMI lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. The manufacturing sector is capital intensive and requires the coordination of many moving parts of the economy. If one of the many contributors of the manufacturing sector appears weak, it’s likely a reflection of underlying weakness in the economy.

The Economic Sentiment lesson discusses how it’s calculated, where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. Measuring the sentiment of EU consumers and businesses is important because they are large contributors to company revenues, investments and economic activity globally.

The Industrial Production lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. Monitoring the monthly industrial production report is useful as it’s a strong gauge of consumer demand, producer output and gives an indication of an economy's growth or shrinkage through an industrial lens.