index number

noun

Statistics.

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

index number

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of index number¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

The higher the index number, the more confident builders feel.

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

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Despite the improved index numbers, comments from respondents were often cautious.

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They filed Elizebeth’s decrypts under new index numbers, making them look like their own.

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The index compares the cost of each of these meats locally with the survey average, and combines the four to arrive at an index number.

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