For anyone who hopes to achieve enduring success in the financial markets, understanding the major economic indicators is a must. From newspapers to financial news networks and the Internet, the media inundates even the most experienced investors with economic data. A comprehensive discussion of the most important economic statistics to watch--including GDP, interest rates, monetary and fiscal policy, and many others-- and how they interact with the financial markets, this book is required reading for individual and professional investors, analysts, and business students. Full of practical tips on investment returns, time horizons, risk, and diversification, readers will learn to forecast realistic returns. Finally, a special chapter on the Internet not only gives readers the low-down on which data sources are worthy of a closer look, but how to use on-line data to create a personal economic workshop for tracking the economy and the financial markets.