What does the US Policy Uncertainty Index measure?

It measures the frequency of newspaper articles in the United States that contain terms related to the economy, policy uncertainty, and government actions.

How often is the index published and what is the historical coverage?

The index is published daily and provides a continuous statistical series starting from January 1, 1985.

Who produces the Economic Policy Uncertainty Index?

The index is produced by the research team of Scott Baker, Nicholas Bloom, and Steven Davis based on analysis of major United States newspapers.

Why is the daily edition useful for analysis?

The daily edition reacts immediately to events such as tariff announcements, legislative votes, and monetary policy meetings, offering a rapid gauge of policy-related unpredictability in the United States.

US Policy Uncertainty Index (EPU, Daily)

Name: US Policy Uncertainty Index (EPU, Daily)
Creator: Economic Policy Uncertainty (Baker, Bloom & Davis)
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

US economic policy uncertainty index, daily measure of policy-related news and unpredictability.

Source: Economic Policy Uncertainty (Baker, Bloom & Davis)Last updated: Sep 27, 2026, 06:56Curated by Bui Thanh PhucAbout this data ↓

	Indicator	25-09-2026	24-09-2026	23-09-2026	22-09-2026	21-09-2026	20-09-2026	19-09-2026	18-09-2026	17-09-2026	16-09-2026	15-09-2026	14-09-2026	13-09-2026	12-09-2026	11-09-2026	10-09-2026	09-09-2026	08-09-2026	07-09-2026	06-09-2026	05-09-2026	04-09-2026	03-09-2026	02-09-2026	01-09-2026	31-08-2026	30-08-2026	29-08-2026	28-08-2026	27-08-2026	26-08-2026
	Economic Policy Uncertainty Index	308.55	295.56	181.89	122.4	184.44	184.02	153.43	249.48	352.61	178.87	243.77	194.96	416.54	217.49	486.92	468.27	267.41	250.21	452.45	697.9	634.63	198.7	245.81	240.28	196.58	266.53	260.31	102.7	179.83	166.87	265.2

Latest reading

Economic Policy Uncertainty Index stood at 308.55 in Sep 25, 2026. That is +4.4% from Sep 24, 2026 and +61.7% from a year earlier. The series on this page is daily and runs from Jan 1, 1985 to Sep 25, 2026. Source: Economic Policy Uncertainty (Baker, Bloom & Davis).

Latest: 308.55; Sep 25, 2026
vs previous period: +4.4%; Sep 24, 2026
vs a year earlier: +61.7%

Look up any date

Pick a date between Jan 1, 1985 and Sep 25, 2026 to see every series in this table on that day. If there is no reading that day (weekend, holiday, or a weekly release), the last reading before it is shown.

About this data

US economic policy uncertainty index, daily measure of policy-related news and unpredictability. Published daily by academic researchers starting from 1985, this series tracks newspaper coverage of economic and government policy uncertainty in the United States. It captures rapid shifts in business and household sentiment regarding future legislation and monetary policy.

Frequently asked questions

What does the US Policy Uncertainty Index measure?: It measures the frequency of newspaper articles in the United States that contain terms related to the economy, policy uncertainty, and government actions.
How often is the index published and what is the historical coverage?: The index is published daily and provides a continuous statistical series starting from January 1, 1985.
Who produces the Economic Policy Uncertainty Index?: The index is produced by the research team of Scott Baker, Nicholas Bloom, and Steven Davis based on analysis of major United States newspapers.
Why is the daily edition useful for analysis?: The daily edition reacts immediately to events such as tariff announcements, legislative votes, and monetary policy meetings, offering a rapid gauge of policy-related unpredictability in the United States.