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

Second, leading indicators already point to softer momentum ahead.

From MarketWatch

Economic growth likely slowed to 4.3% in the third quarter from 4.4% in the previous quarter, as leading indicators point to weaker private consumption and softer imports of consumer goods, ANZ economists said.

From The Wall Street Journal

For most of college football history, roster continuity and experience have been among the leading indicators of a team’s performance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Of the states that are likely to report results fairly rapidly, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan will be seen as leading indicators.

From Salon

A batch of data from Japan includes household spending and consumption figures, leading indicators, and the latest foreign exchange reserves.

From Reuters