Daily Almanac for
Oct 11, 2008
Search White Pages
Info search tips
Bio search tips
Encyclopedia

index number

index number, in econometrics, a figure reflecting a change in value or quantity as compared with a standard or base. The base usually equals 100 and the index number is usually expressed as a percentage. For example, if a commodity cost twice as much in 1970 as it did in 1960, its index number would be 200 relative to 1960. Index numbers are used especially to compare business activity, the cost of living, and employment; one of the most influential indexes in the United States is the Consumer Price Index (see under cost of living). Index numbers enable economists to reduce unwieldy business data into easily understood terms.

See R. Marris, Economic Arithmetic (1958).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

    • Cite
    • Print
    • Bookmark

More on index number from Infoplease:

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Economics: Terms and Concepts


Premium Partner Content

Infoplease Career Center

Trade Publications FREE to Qualified Professionals.

Global Finance has been providing monthly news and analysis since 1987 about companies and financial institutions that do business around the world.

Business Solutions article's show readers how to sell new technologies and penetrate growing vertical markets.
Beyond.com Career Portal Software. © Copyright 2001-2005 Artemis HR, Inc.