This document provides an introduction to economic indicators for journalism students. It defines economic indicators as data used to evaluate the health of an economy. It discusses established indicators like the Consumer Price Index and copper prices. It also categorizes indicators as lagging, coincident, or leading in relation to economic activity. The document advises that good indicators are original, measure important economic activity accurately and consistently, and correlate closely with broader economic measures. It gives some hypothetical alternative indicators as examples from past classes.