Economic indicators are different signs that tell us what's happening in the economy. They can be grouped into three main types: leading indicators, lagging indicators, and coincident indicators.

1. Leading Indicators: These are signs that help us guess what might happen in the future. Some important examples are:

   • Stock Market Trends: The stock market often shows clues about the economy 6 to 12 months ahead.
   • New Housing Permits: When more people get permits to build houses, it usually means the economy is getting better soon.
   • Consumer Confidence Index: This tells us how confident people feel about spending money.

2. Lagging Indicators: These signs show us what has happened in the economy after changes take place. Some key lagging indicators include:

   • Unemployment Rate: This changes after the economy does, usually taking 6 to 12 months to reflect new conditions.
   • Corporate Profits: Companies report their profits every three months, showing us how the economy has been doing.

3. Coincident Indicators: These indicators move at the same time as the economy. They help us understand what's happening right now. Some examples are:

   • Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth Rate: This measures how much the economy is growing.
   • Industrial Production: This shows how much stuff is made in factories and is closely related to what’s happening in the economy.