1) If you were an economic forecaster, explain how you interpret the following statistics below. Your answer must include whether you are predicting a future change in the business cycle, confirming that a change in the business cycle occurred, or are describing what is occurring to the business cycle at the present time.

-The Unemployment Rate has increased for the 4th consecutive month.

-Retail sales fell last quarter by 6%.

-The Consumer Confidence Index has increased for the 3rd month in a row.

-The Business Confidence Index has increased in September, doing so for the 2nd consecutive month.

-The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 5% in January 2022.

-The inflation rate has increased 2.5% for the second straight month

-Median Personal Incomes rose last month by 5%.

-Orders for durable goods fell by 3% in January and February.