A country's trade balance reflects the difference between exports and imports of goods and services. The trade balance is one of the biggest components of the Balance of Payment, giving valuable insight into pressures on country's currency.

The number of new building projects authorized for construction New Zealand . Building Permits, or Building Consents, are issued when a building project has been authorized to begin construction. Since Building Consents serve as one of the earliest signals of expanded housing supply, the report is a leading indicator for the overall housing market. Also, because of the high outlays needed for construction projects Building Permits suggests optimism for corporate or consumer spending. Lastly, housing indicators are popular leading indicators due to the multiplier effect that they have on the rest of the economy. The headline is the percentage change in new consents for the month.

A monthly measurement of all goods sold by retailers based on sampling retail stores of different types and sizes. The retail sales index is often taken as an indicator of consumer confidence. The report reflects data from the previous month. This report is the ""advance"" report, which can be revised fairly significantly after the final numbers are calculated. Many analysts choose to look at the figures ""ex-auto"", which means excluding the volatile car sales figure. It is thought that this number is a better measure of across-the-board purchasing trends. The report does not include money spent on services, so it represents less than half of total consumption during the month. However, even with these limitations, the figures are closely watched as an indicator of the health of the economy.

Mortgage loans are usually an indicator of consumer confidence and housing activity; consumers who feel confident about their financial position generally feel comfortable borrowing and spending money. This also has an impact on other indicators as well. Ultimately, this is an indicator of a country’s overall economic activity and health.

This index indicates the number of mortgages approved for house buying for the last month. These data are published by the Bank of England.
 

The total supply of money in circulation in a given country's economy at a specific time. The primary measures of money supply include: M1, M2, and M3...

Consumer confidence is a measure of popular sentiment concerning the French economy. The figure is derived from a telephone survey of 2000 of French households that inquires about expenditure patterns and inflationary expectations. In general, rising consumer confidence precedes increased consumer spending, which drives both economic growth and inflation. Thus, d omestic consumer confidence is an important gauge of overall economic activity and inflationary expectations.

The headline figure is the difference between the percentage of positive responses and the percentage of negative answers.

Based on the results of numerous surveys, these indicators are designed to forecast the direction of the Euro-zone economy.

A measure of industry sentiment in the Euro-zone nations. Based on a survey among industrial executives, Industrial Confidence asks for production expectations. Specifically the European Commission asks about recent orders and buildup of inventories. Higher levels of industrial confidence indicate a positive outlook for future business spending and capital investment. Despite the fact that manufacturing accounts for only about a quarter of Euro-zone business, industry accounts for most of the volatility in GDP. Thus developments here have significant impact on overall growth in Europe.

A gauge of business sentiment in the services sector. The figure is derived from a survey asking firms in the service sector about current and expected demand. Since the service sector accounts for roughly two thirds of total Euro-zone GDP, Services Confidence provides an important confirmation of the health for the overall economy. High levels of Services Confidence suggest future upward trends for production and employment.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) is a monthly index designed to better gauge overall economic activity and inflationary pressure. The CFNAI is released at 8:30 a.m. ET on scheduled days, normally toward the end of each calendar month.

A monthly survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas indicates an outlook for manufacturing activity in the state.