Atlanta Fed Index

It's a manufacturing index. Just a number. Only meaningful relative to the last set of numbers. How do they make this magic? The Atlanta branch of the Federal Reserve conducts a monthly survey of manufacturers in its area, which covers the southeastern U.S. The index lets economists know how companies in the area are doing.

It's not much information in itself, but together with other regional surveys and other information about the economy, it helps gives a view of the overall economic picture.