The Statistics Netherlands Business Cycle Tracer a graphical approach to business cycle analysis OECD-ISTAT conference on Dynamic graphics for statistical indcators Floris van Ruth Department of business cycle statistics Division of Macro-economic statistics and publications Statistics Netherlands

Two important questions in reporting on short- term economic developments: Question 1: How is the economy doing?

Traditional approach:

Question 2: An economic indicator is down 1.1%. What does this mean?

What did we want? Interpretation at a glance Visualization of the state of the economy Broad and robust characterization of the development of the economy and of individual indicators Allow visual analysis relationships between the main macro-economic indicators

Graphical format – the business cycle tracer

Cycle – medium term (filtered) development Above trend Below trend Increasing Decreasing

Important added value: interactive elements Business cycle analysis is dynamic – time control function Analyse development single economic indicator or in context using relevant other indicators – selection possibilities

The final product 