What is an economic indicator?

An economic indicator is a statistic that provides insight into economic performance. This encompasses various metrics that can reflect the current state or trends within an economy. Economic indicators are crucial for assessing the health of an economy and are used by analysts, policymakers, and investors to make informed decisions.

For example, indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment rates, inflation rates, and consumer confidence indexes help illustrate the overall economic environment, allowing stakeholders to understand better economic growth, stability, and potential downturns.

The other options, while related to economics, do not adequately define an economic indicator. A report on corporate profits and losses focuses specifically on individual company performance rather than the broader economic landscape. A measure of social welfare pertains more to quality of life and social indicators rather than purely economic performance. An analysis of market trends looks at price movements and trading data in financial markets, which, though related, does not encapsulate the broader definition of economic indicators as a measure of overall economic performance.