Bank Prime Loan Rate - the rate from the majority of top 25 insured U.S.-chartered commercial banks. The prime rate is one of several base rates used by banks to price short-term business loans.

30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average - the mortgage rate is based on applications submitted to Freddie Mac from lenders across the country. This rate is an indicator of both the current borrowing costs of homeownership, as well as expected long-term returns by financial institutions.

Finance Rate on Personal Loans at Commercial Banks for a 24-Month Loan - the finance rate is based on interest charges on personal balances at all reporting banks. This rate is usually close to the mean of long-term auto loan rates and short-term credit card APR and can be used as a proxy for the current average borrowing costs for individuals making non-real estate purchases using credit.

Consumer Price Index – The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as transportation, food and medical care. It is calculated by taking price changes for each item in the predetermined basket of goods and averaging them. Changes in the CPI are used to assess price changes associated with the cost of living; the CPI is one of the most frequently used statistics for identifying periods of inflation or deflation. (Source: Investopedia)

Gross Domestic Product – Gross domestic product (GDP) is the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period. Though GDP is usually calculated on an annual basis, the United States releases an annualized GDP estimate for each quarter in addition to the annual calculation. GDP includes all private and public consumption, government outlays, investments, private inventories, paid-in construction costs and the foreign balance of trade (exports are added, imports are subtracted). Put simply, GDP is a broad measurement of a nation’s overall economic activity. (Source: Investopedia)

Consumer Confidence – An index developed by the Conference Board that measures how optimistic or pessimistic consumers are with respect to the economy in the near future. The idea behind the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) is that if consumers are optimistic, they tend to purchase more goods and services. This increase in spending inevitably stimulates the whole economy. (Source: Investopedia)

Federal Funds Rate - The federal funds rate is the interest rate that depository institutions, or banks, lend money to one another. The funds come from excess balances the bank owns which are held at the Federal Reserve and are used to meet Reserve requirements. Another term for the federal funds rate is the overnight rate. The Federal Open Market Committee (FMOC) meets eight times a year to set the federal funds rate. Led by Jerome Powell, the FMOC makes periodic adjustments to the rates based on open market operations and the supply of money required to meet target rates. (Source: Investopedia)