Lagging Indicators:

Lagging indicators are economic factors that can only be identified after an event has occurred. They are used to confirm long-term trends and to identify the strength of the economy. Some examples of lagging indicators are:

- Unemployment rate
- Corporate profits
- Consumer price index (CPI)
- Interest rates
- Gross domestic product (GDP)

Explanation:

Among the given options, the consumer price index (CPI) is an example of a lagging indicator. The CPI is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. It is used to track inflation or deflation in the economy.

The CPI is a lagging indicator because it is based on past data that has already occurred. The CPI is calculated monthly, and the data is released about two weeks after the end of the month. By the time the data is released, it is already a few weeks old, and the trends that it shows may have already changed.

In contrast, leading indicators are economic factors that can be used to predict future trends in the economy. Some examples of leading indicators are:

- New orders for plant and equipment
- Stock prices
- Building permits
- Consumer expectations
- Average weekly hours worked in manufacturing

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the consumer price index (CPI) is an example of a lagging indicator because it is based on past data that has already occurred. The CPI is used to track inflation or deflation in the economy and is released monthly, about two weeks after the end of the month. Leading indicators, on the other hand, are used to predict future trends in the economy.