• The Leading and Coincident Indices are specifically designed for the Washington Metropolitan Area.  Their purpose is to provide a first alert for future economic changes and to keep track of those changes on a monthly basis.

• The Leading Index signals a change in the direction of the economy about 6 to 8 months in advance of that change.

• The Coincident Index reflects the current state of the economy.  Its turning points occur at about the same
  time as those in aggregate economic activity.

• This website includes the Leading and Coincident Indices and their components beginning in January of 1988.

• Also included are labor force data, and wage and salary employment.

Analysis and Discussion By

Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D., Dwight Schar Faculty Chair and University Professor,

Director, The Center For Regional Analysis, School of Public Policy, George Mason University

Methodology, Estimation, and Website By

John L. Preston, Senior Fellow, The Center For Regional Analysis, George Mason University

 This website is updated on or about the 20th of the month, depending upon the availability of data.

Cardinal Bank, proud sponsor of the Metropolitan Washington Economic Indices.

Cardinal Financial Corporation, a financial holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, serves the Washington Metropolitan region through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cardinal Bank. Cardinal also operates George Mason Mortgage, LLC; Cardinal Trust and Investments; Cardinal Wealth Services, Inc., a full-service brokerage company; and Wilson/Bennett Capital Management, Inc., an asset management company. The Company's stock is traded on NASDAQ (CFNL).