Economic Business Meeting

Economics

Under the direction of chief economist Bart van Ark, the Economics Department produces in-depth, objective and global research, analysis, forecasts, and indicators.

From the Chief Economist

Bart van Ark

How much volatility at the bottom of the cycle?
The U.S. economy continues to look better than expected in the short term, but we have only just begun to emerge from the cycle’s trough and there is still a long way to go. ... more

Latest Forecast

The Economic Week

Last week’s Highlights: After four straight quarterly declines, GDP rose at a 3.5 percent annual rate in the third quarter. The good news doesn’t end there. New orders for durable goods remained on a rising trend through September...more

Economic Indicators

Economic Resources

U.S. Indicators	International
Consumer Confidence Index® 5.7 pts U.S. Leading Index 1.0% Help-Wanted Online 83,200 Employment Trends Index 0.3% CEO Confidence 8.0 pts	Australia 1.8% Euro Area 1.2% France 0.9% Germany 1.3% Japan 2.9% Korea 0.3% Mexico 1.1% Spain 1.8% U.K. 0.9% U.S. 1.0%

Total Economy Database
Annual GDP, population, employment, hours and productivity for 123 countries.

Business Cycle Indicators
The composite indexes are the key elements in an analytic system designed to signal changes in the business cycle.

Monthly calendar

Research Reports

The 2009 Institutional Investment Report
The Institutional Investment report, which is released annually in the fall, is the most comprehensive analysis of the asset growth and portfolio composition of institutional investors operating in the United States.

U.S. Salary Increase Budgets for 2010
Salary increase budgets were hit hard in 2009. The good news for 2010 — budgets are projected to be higher. The bad news — the forecasted increase, at 3 percent, is the lowest in 25 years.

More Economic Research