Indexniveau

Indexniveau is a term used in economics and finance to denote the numerical level of an index at a specific date. An index aggregates a set of variables—such as prices, wages, or market values—into a single number that reflects overall performance or movement. The indexniveau is determined by the index's methodology, including the base period and weighting scheme, and is often anchored to a base value (for example 100 or 1000) that serves as a reference point.

In financial reporting, the indexniveau enables comparison over time. Analysts compute changes from one date to another by measuring the percentage change in the indexniveau, typically expressed as (current indexniveau minus previous indexniveau) divided by the previous indexniveau, times 100. The concept applies to price indices (like consumer prices or stock indices) and to other aggregated measures such as wage indices or production indices.

In practice, the indexniveau is used in indexation arrangements and in contracts. When inflation or price movements feed into automatic adjustments, the indexniveau provides the numerical basis for increases in wages, pensions, or rents. Different indices use different base periods and calculation methods, so their indexniveau values are not directly interchangeable across indices.

Related concepts include base year, indexation, and inflation.