Computed / Derived Indicators
Several distress indicators are computed from combinations of upstream data sources — for example, the real wage gap (BLS wages minus CPI) or the energy cost burden (EIA gas prices divided by BLS wages). These derived measures capture distress dynamics that no single source tracks directly.
American Default tracks 14 indicators from Computed / Derived Indicators, including The Coverage Tax, The Energy Squeeze, and The Import Tax. Several distress indicators are computed from combinations of upstream data sources — for example, the real wage gap (BLS wages minus CPI) or the energy cost burden (EIA gas prices divided by BLS wages). These derived measures capture distress dynamics that no single source tracks directly. Data is computed from other tracked indicators' data by the repository's automated pipeline.
Indicators from Computed / Derived Indicators
| Indicator | Reading | Trend | Frequency | ADI Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Coverage Tax | 3.57 pts Current | rising | monthly | Context |
| The Energy Squeeze | 3.75% Current | rising | quarterly | Context |
| The Import Tax | 1.16% Current | rising | annual | Context |
| The Pump Tax | 1.11% Current | rising | quarterly | Context |
| The Grocery Gap | 0.53 pts Current | rising | monthly | Context |
| Grocery Prices Cumulative Change Since Jan 2020 | 32% Current | rising | monthly | Context |
| Healthcare Inflation Premium (Medical CPI minus Overall CPI) | -1.44 pts Current | falling | monthly | Context |
| The Short Shift | 2.88% Current | falling | monthly | Context |
| Large vs Small Bank Credit Card Delinquency Spread | 3.51 pts Current | falling | quarterly | Context |
| The K-Shape | 2.2 pts Current | rising | annual | Context |
| The Wedge | 108.48 Current | ▬ stable | quarterly | Context |
| The Floor | $2 Current | falling | monthly | Context |
| Shop Floor Pay | $10 Current | ▬ stable | monthly | Context |
| Wage Growth vs CPI Spread | 0.84 pts Current | rising | monthly | Context |
How We Get This Data
BLS Series IDs
Attribution & Licensing
Data attributed to: American Default (derived from federal data)
American Default extracts publicly reported statistics with full source attribution. This data may be subject to the source organization's terms of use.
Related
- ADI Methodology — how these indicators feed into the composite score
- All Indicators — browse all tracked indicators
- Data Status — current update status for all data sources
- All Sources — view all data sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What data does Computed / Derived Indicators publish?
Several distress indicators are computed from combinations of upstream data sources — for example, the real wage gap (BLS wages minus CPI) or the energy cost burden (EIA gas prices divided by BLS wages). These derived measures capture distress dynamics that no single source tracks directly.
How often does American Default update Computed / Derived Indicators data?
Computed / Derived Indicators data is computed from other tracked indicators' data by the repository's automated pipeline. Update frequency varies by indicator: monthly, quarterly, annual.
Is Computed / Derived Indicators data free to use?
Yes. These indicators are computed by American Default from other tracked sources' data, not licensed from a third party. See the methodology page for how each is calculated.
What American Distress Index components use Computed / Derived Indicators data?
Computed / Derived Indicators indicators provide supplementary context for household financial distress tracking but are not directly in the ADI composite calculation.