The Leading Indicators: A Short History Of The Numbers That Rule Our WorldHow did we come by the leading indicators we place such stock in? We allocate trillions of dollars and make public policy and personal decisions based upon them, but what do they really tell us? We are bombarded every day with numbers that tell us how we are doing, whether the economy is growing or shrinking, whether the future looks bright or dim. Gross national product, balance of trade, unemployment, inflation, and consumer confidence guide our