Economic Indicators

Strengthen your planning process by interpreting economic trends accurately. This course explains the business cycle and analyzes leading, lagging, and coincident indicators tied to labor markets, retail sales, consumer spending, housing, manufacturing, inflation, and consumer confidence. Learn how to evaluate Federal Reserve reports and integrate macroeconomic data into forecasts and budgets. Develop the analytical skills needed to anticipate economic shifts and align strategic decisions with changing market conditions.
Format

PDF Course

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Duration

2.5 Hours

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Course Information

Author: Steven Bragg
Course Number: EC0001

Learning Objectives
  • Recognize the government agencies involved in the creation of economic indicators.
  • Specify the advantages and disadvantages of the gross domestic product concept.
  • Identify the different types of economic indicators.
  • Recognize the contents of the various reports about the economy issued by U.S. government agencies.
  • Identify the different types of discretionary spending by consumers.
  • Specify the source and uses of the inventories to sales ratio.
  • Recognize the issues associated with the Consumer Price Index.
  • Identify the types of commodities that can be used as economic indicators.
  • Recognize the economic indicators that can give advance notice of price and inflation changes.
  • Specify the components of the Misery Index.
  • Identify the different economy-related reports issued by the Federal Reserve Board.
  • Recognize which indicators do the best job of giving advance notice of the future state of the economy.

Level: Overview
Instructional Method: QAS Self-Study
NASBA Category: Economics
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Latest Review Date: March 2026
Program Registration Requirements: Click on the Enroll button to pay for and access the course. You will then be able to download the course as a PDF file, then take an on-line examination, and then download a certificate of completion if you pass the examination.
Program Refund Policy: For more information regarding administrative policies concerning complaints, refunds, and other matters, see our policies page.

AccountingTools, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
The NASBA sponsor identification number for Accountingtools, Inc. is 115881.

AccountingTools is an IRS Approved Continuing Education Provider. We are compliant with the requirements for continuing education providers (as described in sections 10.6 and 10.9 of the Department of Treasury’s Circular No. 230 and in other IRS guidance, forms, and instructions). Our IRS Approved Continuing Education Provider number is 72821.