It disseminates award-winning industry, policy, and market research covering topics such as U.S. competitiveness in a global economy, innovation in government, government IT forecasts, technology employment and international trade indicators, and other areas of national interest.

FORBES: Connect

These indicators were followed by interest rates and the direction of stock prices, which tied for third place.

FORBES: AAII Sentiment: Bullish Sentiment Reaches Two-Year High

As someone who remains a bit skeptical of how much social connections and sharing will provide purchasing intention signals anywhere near as effective as searches, I think the so-called interest graphs that Sparks surfaces could provide potent indicators of intent to purchase products.

FORBES: Take That, Facebook: Google+ = Social Ad Targeting

Recent economic indicators had suggested the economy was cooling sufficiently to reduce concerns over inflation, and hence fears of further interest rate rises.

BBC: US inflation jumps