Guide · 5 min

Reading a prime market report

How to tell a genuine price index from marketing with a chart.

1. 1

   Check the source

   Who contributed the data, and how many transactions does it rest on?

2. 2

   Look for the method

   A real index explains its sample, its definitions and its limits.

3. 3

   Beware of averages

   In thin markets, a handful of sales can swing a figure dramatically.

4. 4

   Prefer ranges and caveats

   Honest reports are modest about what they can know.