What type of economic indicator is industrial production considered?

Industrial production is classified as a coincident economic indicator. This means that it reflects current economic conditions and changes at the same time as the overall economy. When the economy is expanding, industrial production typically rises, indicating increased output and activity in manufacturing and production sectors. Conversely, during economic downturns, industrial production tends to decline.

Coincident indicators are valuable for assessing the health of the economy in real-time, as they move in correlation with the business cycle. This allows policymakers, businesses, and economists to gauge the state of the economy more accurately as it evolves. The timing of industrial production changes aligns closely with the business cycle, making it a crucial metric for understanding simultaneous economic movements.