Our Economic Indicator Tracker aggregates publicly available data from government agencies and financial institutions. This page explains our methodology for educational transparency.
The Economic Indicator Tracker is a composite score (0-100) that aggregates nine publicly available economic data points related to U.S. fiscal policy, monetary conditions, and global financial trends. It is designed for educational observation only and does not predict future events or constitute financial advice.
National debt exceeds $38.5 trillion, with interest payments surpassing the defense budget. Approximately $9-10 trillion matures in 2026.
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, TreasuryDirect.gov
$9-10 trillion in debt matures in 2026, requiring refinancing at current rates (4-5%) versus original rates (0.5-2%).
Source: Congressional Budget Office (CBO), U.S. Treasury
2026 interest payments projected at $1.3+ trillion, exceeding the defense budget. Government is borrowing to pay interest on existing debt.
Source: Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Gold spiked to $5,500 then corrected to $5,075 (-8.5%). Extreme volatility signals potential systemic instability.
Source: Kitco.com, GoldPrice.org (January 30, 2026)
China has extended gold buying to 14 consecutive months (254 tons year-to-date). BRICS nations collectively hold 6,000+ tons, targeting 65-70% of global reserves.
Source: World Gold Council, Seeking Alpha
DOJ subpoenas against Federal Reserve Chair Powell raise unprecedented concerns about monetary policy autonomy.
Source: Federal Reserve Statement (January 11, 2026)
Dollar's share of global reserves at 58%. Temporary dollar strength amid volatility, but structural de-dollarization trend remains intact.
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), Reuters
BRICS nations plan to launch a gold-backed digital currency in 2026. Infrastructure for local currency trade was agreed upon at the 2025 summit.
Source: BRICS Summit 2025, Financial Times
Florida recognizes gold and silver as legal tender (effective July 2026). Eleven states now have sound money legislation.
Source: Florida HB 999, Sound Money Defense League
Each of the nine factors is assigned a score from 0 to 100 based on publicly available data. Higher scores indicate higher observed activity levels in that specific area.
Each factor is multiplied by its assigned weight (reflecting relative importance based on economic research and historical precedent). The weights are:
Note: 2026-specific factors (debt refinancing, interest payments) receive higher weights due to their immediate relevance.
The weighted scores are summed and rounded to produce a final composite score from 0 to 100. This score is then mapped to a descriptive activity level:
1. Not Predictive: This indicator does not predict future events. It is a snapshot of current publicly available data for educational observation only.
2. Not Financial Advice: This tracker does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Always consult qualified professionals before making financial decisions.
3. Subjective Weighting: The weights assigned to each factor reflect our editorial judgment based on economic research. Other analysts may assign different weights.
4. Data Lag: Some data sources update monthly or quarterly. The indicator reflects the most recently available data at the time of update.
5. Educational Purpose: This tool is designed to help readers understand how various economic indicators can be aggregated for research purposes. It is not a recommendation to take any specific action.
The Economic Indicator Tracker is updated monthly to reflect the latest available data from our sources. The last update was January 2026. Updates are announced on our blog and via our newsletter.