They are a vital part of an array of data that we use to assess if we're doing well or doing badly, and that in turn shapes government policies and corporate budgets and personal spending decisions.

它们是一系列数据的重要组成部分，我们用这些数据来评估自己的表现是好是坏，进而影响政府政策、企业预算和个人支出决定。