Here is a simple framework for reading any economic report in sixty seconds.
Start with the headline number. Is it above or below consensus expectations? Markets react to surprise, not level.
Check the direction. Is it higher or lower than last month? A bad number that is improving is different from a bad number that is deteriorating.
Look at the revision. Did they revise the previous month up or down? Revisions often matter more than the new print.
Compare across regions. Strong US employment and weakening European employment tell a story of divergence that neither series tells on its own.
Finally, ask what it means for policy. Every data point is ultimately about whether it makes central banks more likely to cut, hold, or hike.
EconLens automates these five steps for every query: number, surprise, direction, revision context, cross‑regional comparison, and policy implication, all in one place.
econlens.app.