Up to date news from the financial market is key to producing wise investment decisions. The Investment Business Daily and The Wall Street Journal are the some of the news sources to go to for this timely information. When you track their reliable metrics and heed the targeted insights about economic trends and market forces, you gain an advantage.

Lead indicators of the economy will change prior to when the economy actually changes. The consumer price index reports, the retail sales index, the consumer confidence index, the employment cost index, the gross domestic product reports, the national association of purchasing management index, the producer price index, the productivity report, durable goods order and employment indicators are these indicators which show the output created by a unit of labor.

If signs of the economy turning around are lacking, one of the first telltale signs is a change in the Consumer Confidence Indicator. It is published in the Wall Street Journal and other leading financial papers. Consumer confidence numbers belong to a special group of statistics that are known as ‘leading indicators’. They can show trends in the economy several weeks before they become apparent by harder objective data.

These consumer confidence figures are gathered from a random sample of consumer interviews. These samples are a representation of the country’s population structure as a whole. The data is weighted according to various occupations, regions and income groups. Many believe that solid consumer confidence is crucial to the growth of the economy. This data is revealed at 10:00 a.m. EST on the last Tuesday of any given month. The report analyzes how confident consumers feel about the economy and now willing they are to spend.

Although a bit more futuristic, the stock market is normally a leading indicator of market direction. Historically, it has always led the real economy by about six months.

Thus, even in a tough economy, there can be what is called ”fake out’s” or ”dead cat bounces” prior to a downward plunge in the market. On the other hand, in an improving market, there can be a sudden dive that leaves a lot of investors puzzled. Other people who invested and were defeated will leave a down market that will be opportunistic for others who can step in and take advantage of the situation. Obtain the latest Consumer Price Index for both national and international index breakouts to help time your moves.