Economic Indicators (United Kingdom)

The UK Consumer Price Index lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. As a result of inflation, consumers typically have to deal with budget constraints, decreased purchasing power, and challenges planning for the future. It is essential to take the CPI into account when analyzing economic trends to determine how fast or slow prices are increasing or declining.

The UK Unemployment Rate lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. The unemployment rate provides an indication of how tight the UK labor market is. Or in other words, it tells us how easy or difficult it is for folks to find work.

The UK Retail Sales lesson discusses how it’s calculated, where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. Measuring the currency spent in the United Kingdom’s economy is significant because consumption is the largest contributor of economic activity.

The UK Gross Domestic Product lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. GDP is a key determinant of global financial markets. In a strong economic environment, financial assets will appreciate. In contrast, financial asset values cannot increase sustainably when GDP is in decline.

The UK Manufacturing-PMI lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. The manufacturing sector is capital intensive and requires the coordination of many moving parts of the economy. If one of the many contributors of the manufacturing sector appears weak, it’s likely a reflection of underlying weakness in the economy.

The UK Consumer Confidence lesson discusses how it’s calculated, where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. Measuring the confidence of consumers is important because they are a large source of company revenues and economic activity domestically and globally.

The UK Employment lesson discusses where to find it, how to forecast it, how it’s influenced, and how it influences financial markets and the economy. The speed at which employers are hiring staff acts as a key indicator of productivity and growth. The UK's employment growth plays a crucial role in determining the health of its economy and its financial markets.