0 something that shows what a situation will be like in the future rather than showing what it is like now or has been like in previous weeks, months, etc.:
1 a measure that is used to predict future financial and economic activity, because it changes before the economy of a country has changed:
Leading indicators and current conditions point to further declines in capital spending.
a leading indicator of sth The Dow Jones Index is often seen as a reflection of the economy and a leading indicator of where stocks are headed.
Leading indicators for drug use - including rates of use among the youngest age group and the number of new users - suggest possible future declines.
The Economic Cycle Research Institute's weekly leading indicator has risen sharply for the past three weeks, possibly foreshadowing a recovery in the next three months.
Because the stock market traditionally turns up before the economy does - five months ahead, on average - some look to Wall Street indexes as leading indicators.
The number of people considering moving out of the state is a very good leading indicator of the future economy.
