The phrase "a lead indicator for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a metric or signal that predicts future performance or trends in a specific area.
Example: "The unemployment rate is often considered a lead indicator for economic growth."
Alternatives: "a predictive measure for" or "an early signal of".
These should be a lead indicator for the real economy.
Insofar as what manufacturers see as likely future demand is a lead indicator for output, this bodes well.
He sees this index, which slumped in late 2007 and started to rebound in late 2008, as a lead indicator for Chinese activity.
But this link is of little use to investors, who are looking instead for a lead indicator for equity performance.Goldman argues that investors can take advantage of upgrades in economic-growth forecasts, which signal better prospective returns especially in the developing world.
Studies show that design award reception is a lead indicator for stock performance and that companies consistently winning awards outperform their non-winning peers by four percent annually.
Just as the home builders were a lead indicator to what was going to happen for the development loans sitting on the banks' balance sheets, I think the performance of the REITs is a pretty good indicator of some of the stress that's going to play out for the commercial real estate side.
Analysts at Credit Suisse said: With the strong pick-up in nickel prices (lead indicator for stainless demand), rising stainless prices in Europe and potential supply risk in South Africa (strike risk spreading) we expect the fourth quarter to be a trough for prices and, given very weak recent performance, ENRC shares could see improved momentum near term.
Leading indicators like China's macro index is certainly a leading indicator for our stock market but so far the blue line is an unwavering upward V.
The Realtors' Commercial Leading Indicator for Brokerage Activity measures future commercial activity based on 13 variables — including job growth, unemployment claims, wholesale and retail sales and prices of real estate investment trusts – and it says that right now the broad recovery in commercial markets is expected to continue for the next six to nine months.
(Friday.) Economic Indicators -- Leading indicators for May (Monday); jobless claims for the week of June 13-18 and home resales for May (Thursday); and durable-goods orders and new-home sales for May (Friday).
ET: Leading Indicators for January.
