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econscout
Analysis

Two series, one timeline

Overlay any two indicators over the window where both exist. Jan 1959 to Jan 2026.

First series
Second series
Real GDP (Billions of chained 2017 dollars) Housing Starts (Thousands of units (SAAR))
1960-61 Recession1969-70 Recession1973-75 Recession1980 Recession1981-82 Recession1990-91 Recession2001 RecessionGlobal Financial CrisisCOVID-19 Recession$5T$10T$15T$20T0.5M1.0M1.5M2.0M1960197019801990200020102020

Left axis: Real GDP · GDPC1. Right axis: Housing Starts · HOUST. Both from FRED, latest-revised, read from cache.

Correlation is not causation. Two lines moving together is not one moving the other. A shared trend often traces back to a third force, or to chance. This tool overlays the data. It does not explain it.