Definition
The middle of what economists expect a report to show, gathered in a named poll such as Reuters, Bloomberg or Dow Jones.
The story
It works like a weather forecast. If the forecast said rain and it rains, nobody cancels plans. If it said sunshine and you get a storm, everything changes. Markets work the same way: they've already planned for the forecast, so only the difference makes news.
Why markets watch it
The first reaction is to the gap between the actual number and the consensus, not to the number alone.
See it in the story
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Last seen in
We explain why it moves markets. What you do with it is your call. Commentary and education only. Not financial advice. All terms