index number

American  

noun

Statistics.

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

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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

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Etymology

Origin of index number

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

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

From MarketWatch

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

From Seattle Times

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

From Reuters

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

From Literature

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.

From Seattle Times