A Guide to Everyday Economic Statistics

The 7th edition Guide to Everyday Economic Statistics is a handy little guide that can be consulted for clarification whenever any of the statistical series dealt with are encountered. The authors examine how different series are constructed and how we may use them effectively. This guide puts statistics in context, so the reader can see how an individual statistic relates to the larger picture. Because of this, students won’t have to read the book consecutively from beginning to end. Title Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION How the Statistics in This Book Were Chosen A Frame of Reference The Many Faces of Economic Statistics Abusing Economic Statistics Using Economic Statistics And Beware of Forecasts! A Final Word CHAPTER 2: TOTAL OUTPUT and INCOME Gross Domestic Product Recession vs. Depression The NIPAs Personal Income CHAPTER 3: PRODUCTION and GROWTH Purchasing Managers’ Index Index of Industrial Production Capacity Utilization Labor Productivity Leading Economic Index CHAPTER 4: INVESTMENT and CAPITAL EXPENDITURES Private Nonresidential Fixed Investment Building Permits and Housing Starts Business Inventories Inventory/Sales Ratio Durable Goods Orders CHAPTER 5: EMPLOYMENT and UNEMPLOYMENT Total Employment New Jobs Created viii Unemployment Rate New Jobless Claims Help-Wanted Advertising CHAPTER 6: SPENDING, PROFITS, and EXPECTATIONS Consumer Spending Retail Sales Wholesale Sales Employment Cost Index Corporate Profits Consumer Expectations and Confidence Beige Book CHAPTER 7: PRICES, MONEY, and INTEREST RATES Consumer Price Index Producer Price Index Money Supply Fed Funds Rate Primary Credit Rate Treasury Bill Rate Prime Rate LIBOR CHAPTER 8: STOCK PRICES and INTERNATIONAL TRADE Dow Jones Industrial Average Standard & Poor's 500 Russell 3000 Wilshire 5000 Trade Deficit International Value of the Dollar Foreign Exchange APPENDIX: CHAIN WEIGHTING INDEX Examines how different series are constructed and how we may use them effectively. This guide puts statistics in context, so the reader can see how an individual statistic relates to the larger picture.