As I explained last spring, this index measures the home builders outlook for the economy and overall housing market conditions.

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While gas is down 25% since the summer, the pump price remains high by recent standards, and the Consumer Confidence Index has wobbled down since spring.

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"Most Arab Spring countries rank in the lower half of the index, " it said in a statement.

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The baked bean index - my colleague Anthony Reuben noted in the spring how the value of sales of baked beans - a classic recession food - had risen 21.6% in April compared with the same month last year.

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The iShares FTSE NAREIT Residential Plus Capped Index Fund (REZ) has doubled in value since the spring of 2009, despite historically high rates of foreclosures and short sales.

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Emerging markets often spring such surprises, but the Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Asia Index is up 18% in the year to date, following four consecutive annual increases.

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But perceptions about index funds changed during the stock market decline that took place between the spring of 2000 and October of 2002.

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