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index number

American  

noun

Statistics.
  1. a quantity whose variation over a period of time measures the change in some phenomenon.


index number British  

noun

  1. statistics a statistic indicating the relative change occurring in each successive period of time in the price, volume, or value of a commodity or in a general economic variable, such as the price level, national income, or gross output, with reference to a previous base period conventionally given the number 100

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of index number

First recorded in 1870–75

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.

See Examples For:

That was much faster than the 2.9% increase in the headline consumer-price index number.

From MarketWatch Oct. 15, 2025

VTS produces a quarterly index number that gauges the interest among companies for new office space in seven major markets.

From Seattle Times Nov. 17, 2023

If we list each value, or observation, in a column, you can give each one an index number.

From Textbooks Nov. 29, 2017

While it is possible to reach a mass audience with the NFL, the audience has an index number of 118 among consumers with incomes of more than $100,000.

From Forbes Oct. 9, 2014

From these considerations I deduce that the index number of general commodities may be safely taken as 200 when your book appears.

From The Foundations of Japan Notes Made During Journeys Of 6,000 Miles In The Rural Districts As A Basis For A Sounder Knowledge Of The Japanese People by J.W. Robertson Scott

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