leading indicators

American  

[lee-ding] / ˈli dɪŋ /

plural noun

Economics.

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

For deposit insurance, such a market would almost certainly set rates that reflect leading indicators of risk, such as rapid asset growth, rather than lagging indicators, such as the growth in a bank’s non-performing loans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 13, 2026

Second, leading indicators already point to softer momentum ahead.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 30, 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

“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

“A lot of leading indicators and surveys look quite abysmal at face value, although many of them are stabilizing or even bouncing back,” said Patrick Saner, head of macro strategy at Swiss Re.

From Reuters • Feb. 10, 2023