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

See Examples For:

index number

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

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 18, 2025

A rational exponent is a fraction: the denominator of the fraction is the root or index number and the numerator is the power to which it is raised.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 21, 2021

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 ● Sep. 6, 2021

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

The basis of it should be the change in the index number of prices of all important commodities produced within the country.

From The Settlement of Wage Disputes by Herbert Feis