Today's investors have to be more knowledgeable than ever before about the financial markets, and they have to play a more active role in managing their money. The CompleteIdiot's Guide® to Economic Indicatorshelps them do both by introducing them to the leading U.S. economic indicators that collectively serve as the barometer of our economy and use them to make better informed investment decisions. For each indicator, readers learn what it is, how it's measured, how it can impact the markets, how often it gets revised, and where to access the information. Indicators covered include-

• National Output
• Gross Domestic Product
• Durable Goods Orders
• Factory Orders
• Business Inventories
• Employment
• The Employment Situation Report
• Weekly Claims for Unemployment
• Mass Layoff Statistics
• Consumer Reports
• Personal Income and Spending
• Retail Sales
• Consumer Credit Outstanding
• Consumer Confidence Index
• Survey of Consumer Sentiment
• Housing and Construction
• New Home Sales
• Existing Home Sales
• Housing Starts and Building Permits
• Housing Market Index
• Inflation
• Consumer Price Index
• Producer Price Index
• Import and Export Prices.

R. Mark Rogershas more than a quarter of a century of experience tracking the economy's ups and downs. He developed his expertise during 19 years with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta where he briefed the Atlanta Fed president on the economic outlook prior to the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee meetings. In his role of macroeconomic forecast coordinator for the Macropolicy Group, he delved into the nitty-gritty of economic indicators to track and forecast the economy. Rogers is no new comer to writing and teaching on economic indicators. He authored Handbook of Key Economic Indicators (Irwin, 1998, and McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing, 2004), and he has lectured nationally on the use and analysis of economic data with the Institute for Professional Education, Arlington, VA. Rogers is currently a senior U.S. economist with Econoday, a firm that specializes in providing economic data and analysis for investors and traders in financial markets. Rogers provides in depth analysis of market moving economic indicators for Econoday clients as well as Fed watching. Rogers also has taught economics in an adjunct capacity for Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and for Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia.