is inflation a leading or lagging indicator 
inflation is a lagging economic indicator it is reported after prices have already risen which means the data it uses is historical this type of lagging indicator provides important information about the economy that is used to set public policy the bottom linelagging indicators are correlated to economic financial or business inputs they are based on historical data which means they change after a change has already happened in those inputs this is different from leading indicators which provide information about likely future changes economic lagging indicators such as the unemployment rate or inflation provide information about past economic changes business lagging indicators usually provide information about how a change in management or strategy has impacted performance technical indicators are used in investing they provide information about market trends momentum and the prices of securities 