Sample snapshot — not live data.
This page is a static example of what my Economic Health Dashboard script produces. The live tool pulls real figures from the Federal Reserve (FRED) API on each run, but FRED requires a private API key that cannot be safely published on a static site, so the numbers below are realistic placeholders rather than current data. The full source code is on GitHub — running it locally with your own free FRED key produces the real, current dashboard.

Economic Health Dashboard

Sample generated May 17, 2026 20:32 UTC  ·  51 of 52 indicators current, 1 unavailable  ·  US · Oregon · Washington · California

Cross-Region Comparison

Latest value per region. Dashed orange line = commonly-cited reference where one applies.

Unemployment rate

US
4.1%
OR
4.4%
WA
4.6%
CA
5.3%
0.0%1.4%2.8%4.1%5.5%

Avg hourly earnings (total private)

US
$35.36/hr
OR
$36.10/hr
WA
$41.84/hr
CA
$39.92/hr
$0.00/hr$11.25/hr$22.50/hr$33.75/hr$45.00/hr

Coincident activity index

US
n/a
—
OR
168.20
WA
171.00
CA
174.50
Employment levels scale with economy size, so California always dwarfs Oregon on raw counts — the unemployment rate is the apples-to-apples read for relative labor health.

About the reference points

These are widely-cited reference points, not settled "ideal" values — reasonable economists dispute them, structural state rates differ from the national figure, and a number near a reference is not automatically "good" in isolation. Indicators without a defensible reference are shown without one rather than assigned an invented target.

Short-term momentum. Same indicators with a longer view further below.

Leading Indicators — move before the economy

United States

Yield curve spread (10y - 3m)as of 2026-04-01
0.42ppts
▲ 0.00 since prior
0 = inversion threshold+0.42 vs ref 0
-0.00.20.5ref 0ppts2024-052026-04
Building permitsas of 2026-04-01
1,392.00thous units (SAAR)
▲ 5.57 since prior1,361.31,389.91,418.5thous units (SAAR)2024-052026-04
Initial jobless claimsas of 2026-04-01
219,000.00persons (weekly)
▲ 876.00 since prior214,175.0218,671.5223,168.0persons (weekly)2024-052026-04
U. Michigan consumer sentimentas of 2026-04-01
71.80index
▲ 0.29 since prior70.271.773.2index2024-052026-04
Durable goods new ordersas of 2026-04-01
289,500.00$ millions
▲ 1,158.00 since prior283,121.7289,065.8295,009.8$ millions2024-052026-04
S&P 500 index
data unavailable
Avg weekly hours, manufacturingas of 2026-04-01
40.70hours
▲ 0.16 since prior39.840.641.5hours2024-052026-04

Oregon

OR building permits (private housing)as of 2026-04-01
1,180.00units
▲ 4.72 since prior1,154.01,178.21,202.5units2024-052026-04
OR initial jobless claimsas of 2026-04-01
4,100.00persons (weekly)
▲ 16.40 since prior4,009.74,093.94,178.0persons (weekly)2024-052026-04
OR manufacturing employmentas of 2026-04-01
196.50thous persons
▲ 0.79 since prior192.2196.2200.2thous persons2024-052026-04

Washington

WA building permits (private housing)as of 2026-04-01
2,620.00units
▲ 10.48 since prior2,562.32,616.12,669.9units2024-052026-04
WA initial jobless claimsas of 2026-04-01
5,300.00persons (weekly)
▲ 21.20 since prior5,183.25,292.05,400.9persons (weekly)2024-052026-04
WA manufacturing employmentas of 2026-04-01
287.00thous persons
▲ 1.15 since prior280.7286.6292.5thous persons2024-052026-04

California

CA building permits (private housing)as of 2026-04-01
8,100.00units
▲ 32.40 since prior7,921.58,087.98,254.2units2024-052026-04
CA initial jobless claimsas of 2026-04-01
41,200.00persons (weekly)
▲ 164.80 since prior40,292.341,138.241,984.1persons (weekly)2024-052026-04
CA manufacturing employmentas of 2026-04-01
1,248.00thous persons
▲ 4.99 since prior1,220.51,246.11,271.8thous persons2024-052026-04

Coincident Indicators — move with the economy

United States

Real GDPas of 2026-04-01
23,120.00$ bn (chained, SAAR)
▲ 92.48 since prior22,610.623,085.323,560.0$ bn (chained, SAAR)2024-052026-04
Real GDP growth (q/q annualized)as of 2026-04-01
2.80%
▲ 0.01 since prior
~2% trend growth+0.80 vs ref 2
1.92.42.9ref 2%2024-052026-04
Total nonfarm payrollsas of 2026-04-01
159,200.00thous persons
▲ 636.80 since prior155,692.5158,961.2162,229.9thous persons2024-052026-04
Unemployment rateas of 2026-04-01
4.10%
▲ 0.02 since prior
~4% full-employment range+0.10 vs ref 4
4.04.14.2ref 4%2024-052026-04
Industrial production indexas of 2026-04-01
103.10index (2017=100)
▲ 0.41 since prior100.8102.9105.1index (2017=100)2024-052026-04
Real personal income (ex-transfers)as of 2026-04-01
16,980.00$ bn (SAAR)
▲ 67.92 since prior16,605.916,954.517,303.2$ bn (SAAR)2024-052026-04
Advance retail salesas of 2026-04-01
705,300.00$ millions
▲ 2,821.20 since prior689,760.8704,242.1718,723.3$ millions2024-052026-04
Real personal consumptionas of 2026-04-01
16,240.00$ bn (SAAR)
▲ 64.96 since prior15,882.216,215.616,549.1$ bn (SAAR)2024-052026-04

Oregon

OR real GDPas of 2026-04-01
264,500.00$ millions (chained)
▲ 1,058.00 since prior258,672.5264,103.2269,534.0$ millions (chained)2024-052026-04
OR total nonfarm employmentas of 2026-04-01
1,968.00thous persons
▲ 7.87 since prior1,924.61,965.02,005.5thous persons2024-052026-04
OR unemployment rateas of 2026-04-01
4.40%
▲ 0.02 since prior
~4% full-employment range+0.40 vs ref 4
4.04.24.5ref 4%2024-052026-04
OR total personal incomeas of 2026-04-01
286,400.00$ millions (SAAR)
▲ 1,145.60 since prior280,090.0285,970.4291,850.8$ millions (SAAR)2024-052026-04
OR coincident economic activity indexas of 2026-04-01
168.20index
▲ 0.67 since prior164.5167.9171.4index2024-052026-04

Washington

WA real GDPas of 2026-04-01
692,400.00$ millions (chained)
▲ 2,769.60 since prior677,145.0691,361.4705,577.8$ millions (chained)2024-052026-04
WA total nonfarm employmentas of 2026-04-01
3,640.00thous persons
▲ 14.56 since prior3,559.83,634.53,709.3thous persons2024-052026-04
WA unemployment rateas of 2026-04-01
4.60%
▲ 0.02 since prior
~4% full-employment range+0.60 vs ref 4
3.94.34.7ref 4%2024-052026-04
WA total personal incomeas of 2026-04-01
561,800.00$ millions (SAAR)
▲ 2,247.20 since prior549,422.4560,957.3572,492.2$ millions (SAAR)2024-052026-04
WA coincident economic activity indexas of 2026-04-01
171.00index
▲ 0.68 since prior167.2170.7174.3index2024-052026-04

California

CA real GDPas of 2026-04-01
3,210,000.00$ millions (chained)
▲ 12,840.00 since prior3,139,277.33,205,185.03,271,092.7$ millions (chained)2024-052026-04
CA total nonfarm employmentas of 2026-04-01
18,120.00thous persons
▲ 72.48 since prior17,720.818,092.818,464.9thous persons2024-052026-04
CA unemployment rateas of 2026-04-01
5.30%
▲ 0.02 since prior
~4% full-employment range+1.30 vs ref 4
3.94.75.5ref 4%2024-052026-04
CA total personal incomeas of 2026-04-01
3,050,000.00$ millions (SAAR)
▲ 12,200.00 since prior2,982,802.43,045,425.03,108,047.6$ millions (SAAR)2024-052026-04
CA coincident economic activity indexas of 2026-04-01
174.50index
▲ 0.70 since prior170.7174.2177.8index2024-052026-04

Lagging Indicators — confirm trends after the fact

United States

CPI inflation (y/y)as of 2026-04-01
2.90%
▲ 0.01 since prior
Fed 2% target+0.90 vs ref 2
1.92.53.0ref 2%2024-052026-04
Core PCE inflation (y/y)as of 2026-04-01
2.70%
▲ 0.01 since prior
Fed 2% target+0.70 vs ref 2
1.92.42.8ref 2%2024-052026-04
Avg duration of unemploymentas of 2026-04-01
22.90weeks
▲ 0.09 since prior22.422.923.3weeks2024-052026-04
Effective federal funds rateas of 2026-04-01
4.33%
▲ 0.02 since prior4.24.34.4%2024-052026-04
Bank prime loan rateas of 2026-04-01
7.50%
▲ 0.03 since prior7.37.57.6%2024-052026-04
Unit labor costs (nonfarm business)as of 2026-04-01
124.20index
▲ 0.50 since prior121.5124.0126.6index2024-052026-04
Avg hourly earningsas of 2026-04-01
35.36$/hour
▲ 0.14 since prior34.635.336.0$/hour2024-052026-04

Oregon

OR civilian labor forceas of 2026-04-01
2,150,000.00persons
▲ 8,600.00 since prior2,102,631.22,146,775.02,190,918.8persons2024-052026-04
OR avg hourly earnings (total private)as of 2026-04-01
36.10$/hour
▲ 0.14 since prior35.336.036.8$/hour2024-052026-04

Washington

WA civilian labor forceas of 2026-04-01
4,180,000.00persons
▲ 16,720.00 since prior4,087,906.24,173,730.04,259,553.8persons2024-052026-04
WA avg hourly earnings (total private)as of 2026-04-01
41.84$/hour
▲ 0.17 since prior40.941.842.6$/hour2024-052026-04

California

CA civilian labor forceas of 2026-04-01
19,600,000.00persons
▲ 78,400.00 since prior19,168,172.819,570,600.019,973,027.2persons2024-052026-04
CA avg hourly earnings (total private)as of 2026-04-01
39.92$/hour
▲ 0.16 since prior39.039.940.7$/hour2024-052026-04

The same indicators over their full available record (monthly), so you can see where today sits in the long arc. Series start at different dates — each chart's X-axis shows its own range.

Leading Indicators — move before the economy

United States

Yield curve spread (10y - 3m)as of 2026-04-01
0.42ppts
▲ 0.00 since prior
0 = inversion threshold+0.42 vs ref 0
-0.00.20.5ref 0ppts2012-052026-04
Building permitsas of 2026-04-01
1,392.00thous units (SAAR)
▲ 5.57 since prior1,291.61,389.51,487.3thous units (SAAR)2012-052026-04
Initial jobless claimsas of 2026-04-01
219,000.00persons (weekly)
▲ 876.00 since prior203,211.0218,605.8234,000.6persons (weekly)2012-052026-04
U. Michigan consumer sentimentas of 2026-04-01
71.80index
▲ 0.29 since prior66.671.776.7index2012-052026-04
Durable goods new ordersas of 2026-04-01
289,500.00$ millions
▲ 1,158.00 since prior268,628.2288,978.9309,329.6$ millions2012-052026-04
S&P 500 index
data unavailable
Avg weekly hours, manufacturingas of 2026-04-01
40.70hours
▲ 0.16 since prior37.840.643.5hours2012-052026-04

Oregon

OR building permits (private housing)as of 2026-04-01
1,180.00units
▲ 4.72 since prior1,094.91,177.91,260.8units2012-052026-04
OR initial jobless claimsas of 2026-04-01
4,100.00persons (weekly)
▲ 16.40 since prior3,804.44,092.64,380.8persons (weekly)2012-052026-04
OR manufacturing employmentas of 2026-04-01
196.50thous persons
▲ 0.79 since prior182.3196.1210.0thous persons2012-052026-04

Washington

WA building permits (private housing)as of 2026-04-01
2,620.00units
▲ 10.48 since prior2,431.12,615.32,799.5units2012-052026-04
WA initial jobless claimsas of 2026-04-01
5,300.00persons (weekly)
▲ 21.20 since prior4,917.95,290.55,663.0persons (weekly)2012-052026-04
WA manufacturing employmentas of 2026-04-01
287.00thous persons
▲ 1.15 since prior266.3286.5306.7thous persons2012-052026-04

California

CA building permits (private housing)as of 2026-04-01
8,100.00units
▲ 32.40 since prior7,516.08,085.48,654.8units2012-052026-04
CA initial jobless claimsas of 2026-04-01
41,200.00persons (weekly)
▲ 164.80 since prior38,229.641,125.844,022.0persons (weekly)2012-052026-04
CA manufacturing employmentas of 2026-04-01
1,248.00thous persons
▲ 4.99 since prior1,158.01,245.81,333.5thous persons2012-052026-04

Coincident Indicators — move with the economy

United States

Real GDPas of 2026-04-01
23,120.00$ bn (chained, SAAR)
▲ 92.48 since prior21,453.123,078.424,703.6$ bn (chained, SAAR)2012-052026-04
Real GDP growth (q/q annualized)as of 2026-04-01
2.80%
▲ 0.01 since prior
~2% trend growth+0.80 vs ref 2
1.92.53.0ref 2%2012-052026-04
Total nonfarm payrollsas of 2026-04-01
159,200.00thous persons
▲ 636.80 since prior147,722.3158,913.4170,104.6thous persons2012-052026-04
Unemployment rateas of 2026-04-01
4.10%
▲ 0.02 since prior
~4% full-employment range+0.10 vs ref 4
3.84.14.4ref 4%2012-052026-04
Industrial production indexas of 2026-04-01
103.10index (2017=100)
▲ 0.41 since prior95.7102.9110.2index (2017=100)2012-052026-04
Real personal income (ex-transfers)as of 2026-04-01
16,980.00$ bn (SAAR)
▲ 67.92 since prior15,755.816,949.418,143.1$ bn (SAAR)2012-052026-04
Advance retail salesas of 2026-04-01
705,300.00$ millions
▲ 2,821.20 since prior654,450.7704,030.5753,610.2$ millions2012-052026-04
Real personal consumptionas of 2026-04-01
16,240.00$ bn (SAAR)
▲ 64.96 since prior15,069.216,210.817,352.4$ bn (SAAR)2012-052026-04

Oregon

OR real GDPas of 2026-04-01
264,500.00$ millions (chained)
▲ 1,058.00 since prior245,430.6264,023.9282,617.2$ millions (chained)2012-052026-04
OR total nonfarm employmentas of 2026-04-01
1,968.00thous persons
▲ 7.87 since prior1,826.11,964.52,102.8thous persons2012-052026-04
OR unemployment rateas of 2026-04-01
4.40%
▲ 0.02 since prior
~4% full-employment range+0.40 vs ref 4
3.94.34.7ref 4%2012-052026-04
OR total personal incomeas of 2026-04-01
286,400.00$ millions (SAAR)
▲ 1,145.60 since prior265,751.7285,884.5306,017.3$ millions (SAAR)2012-052026-04
OR coincident economic activity indexas of 2026-04-01
168.20index
▲ 0.67 since prior156.1167.9179.7index2012-052026-04

Washington

WA real GDPas of 2026-04-01
692,400.00$ millions (chained)
▲ 2,769.60 since prior642,480.7691,153.7739,826.6$ millions (chained)2012-052026-04
WA total nonfarm employmentas of 2026-04-01
3,640.00thous persons
▲ 14.56 since prior3,377.63,633.43,889.3thous persons2012-052026-04
WA unemployment rateas of 2026-04-01
4.60%
▲ 0.02 since prior
~4% full-employment range+0.60 vs ref 4
3.94.44.9ref 4%2012-052026-04
WA total personal incomeas of 2026-04-01
561,800.00$ millions (SAAR)
▲ 2,247.20 since prior521,296.5560,788.8600,281.1$ millions (SAAR)2012-052026-04
WA coincident economic activity indexas of 2026-04-01
171.00index
▲ 0.68 since prior158.7170.7182.7index2012-052026-04

California

CA real GDPas of 2026-04-01
3,210,000.00$ millions (chained)
▲ 12,840.00 since prior2,978,571.83,204,222.03,429,872.2$ millions (chained)2012-052026-04
CA total nonfarm employmentas of 2026-04-01
18,120.00thous persons
▲ 72.48 since prior16,813.618,087.419,361.1thous persons2012-052026-04
CA unemployment rateas of 2026-04-01
5.30%
▲ 0.02 since prior
~4% full-employment range+1.30 vs ref 4
3.94.85.7ref 4%2012-052026-04
CA total personal incomeas of 2026-04-01
3,050,000.00$ millions (SAAR)
▲ 12,200.00 since prior2,830,107.23,044,510.03,258,912.8$ millions (SAAR)2012-052026-04
CA coincident economic activity indexas of 2026-04-01
174.50index
▲ 0.70 since prior161.9174.2186.5index2012-052026-04

Lagging Indicators — confirm trends after the fact

United States

CPI inflation (y/y)as of 2026-04-01
2.90%
▲ 0.01 since prior
Fed 2% target+0.90 vs ref 2
1.92.53.2ref 2%2012-052026-04
Core PCE inflation (y/y)as of 2026-04-01
2.70%
▲ 0.01 since prior
Fed 2% target+0.70 vs ref 2
1.92.42.9ref 2%2012-052026-04
Avg duration of unemploymentas of 2026-04-01
22.90weeks
▲ 0.09 since prior21.222.924.5weeks2012-052026-04
Effective federal funds rateas of 2026-04-01
4.33%
▲ 0.02 since prior4.04.34.6%2012-052026-04
Bank prime loan rateas of 2026-04-01
7.50%
▲ 0.03 since prior7.07.58.0%2012-052026-04
Unit labor costs (nonfarm business)as of 2026-04-01
124.20index
▲ 0.50 since prior115.2124.0132.7index2012-052026-04
Avg hourly earningsas of 2026-04-01
35.36$/hour
▲ 0.14 since prior32.835.337.8$/hour2012-052026-04

Oregon

OR civilian labor forceas of 2026-04-01
2,150,000.00persons
▲ 8,600.00 since prior1,994,993.62,146,130.02,297,266.4persons2012-052026-04
OR avg hourly earnings (total private)as of 2026-04-01
36.10$/hour
▲ 0.14 since prior33.536.038.6$/hour2012-052026-04

Washington

WA civilian labor forceas of 2026-04-01
4,180,000.00persons
▲ 16,720.00 since prior3,878,638.74,172,476.04,466,313.3persons2012-052026-04
WA avg hourly earnings (total private)as of 2026-04-01
41.84$/hour
▲ 0.17 since prior38.841.844.7$/hour2012-052026-04

California

CA civilian labor forceas of 2026-04-01
19,600,000.00persons
▲ 78,400.00 since prior18,186,918.419,564,720.020,942,521.6persons2012-052026-04
CA avg hourly earnings (total private)as of 2026-04-01
39.92$/hour
▲ 0.16 since prior37.039.842.7$/hour2012-052026-04