What economic indicators will you be watching in January and why?
Again, there isn't one correct answer here - what we're looking for is a concise and persuasive argument.
Best Answer
677 points
Dragonsbane answered 11 months ago …
US Non-Farm Payrolls is probably the most important number of the month. The market is basically hanging it's hat on the fact that the US can not go into recession with the current number of jobs being created. Regardless of how accurate NFP numbers are, they will determine whether the market believes the US is going into recession. And in the short term, perception is far more important than reality.
In the Eurozone, I'd watch Consumer Sentiment, Retail Sales and Inflation. If these numbers surprise to the downside, the market will react.
Answers
314 points
Ifly answered one year ago …
One indicator I look at for general market direction is Fedex (FDX). This transport conglomerate is usually a leading indicator of the health of the economy and hence the overall stock market. Another is the Bond market. It acts as a mirror image of the S&P but a tad leading.
Cheers
Ifly
252 points
charlo answered 11 months ago …
Dead on for Dragonsbane given today's horrid performance in the market. People will definitely look into NFP numbers in addition to core/noncore inflation numbers. I figure people will start worrying more and more about recession and stagflation in the first quarter of 2008. Also consumer confidence numbers.
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