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leading indicators

American

[lee-ding] / ˈli dɪŋ /

plural noun

Economics.

data that reflect current economic conditions and can suggest future developments or fluctuations in the nation's economy: issued, usually monthly, by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis in the Commerce Department.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The reason financials tend to be leading indicators is that they are the providers of liquidity for growth.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

For most of college football history, roster continuity and experience have been among the leading indicators of a team’s performance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

Of the states that are likely to report results fairly rapidly, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan will be seen as leading indicators.

From Salon • Nov. 5, 2024

A batch of data from Japan includes household spending and consumption figures, leading indicators, and the latest foreign exchange reserves.

From Reuters • Oct. 5, 2023

“You have leading indicators that suggest a recession is coming, and coincident indicators that suggest the economy is chugging along at a good pace,” said Kathy Bostjancic, chief economist at Nationwide Life Insurance Co.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 11, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023