GDP, CPI and other key economic reports
By Bankrate.com

If you're keeping an eye on the economy, you need to watch these key pieces of data, updated by Bankrate as the information becomes available.

Key economic statistics Updated 5/21/2008

Click on the links below to find a fuller explanation of the term.

This week Month ago Year ago Gross Domestic Product (billions) 14,185.2 14,074.2 13,632.6 Housing Starts (thousands) 692 704 1,225 Producer Price Index 175.8 175.8 165.5 Consumer Price Index 213.7 213.3 206.0 Purchasing Managers Index 48.6 48.6 54.7 Retail Sales 378,148 381,416 372,034 Unemployment Rate 5.0 5.1 4.5

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Ratings methodology
Who are they for? Business owners, sophisticated investors and anyone who wants to keep an eye on the economy.

What's included? Statistics include: the unemployment rate, the level of monthly retail sales, price changes for businesses and consumers as measured by the Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index, monthly housing starts, and the quarterly Gross Domestic Product, which measures the value of all goods and services produced in the U.S. in a given calendar quarter.

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