I realize I have no actual idea of your background or age, but I'll assume you don't do anything in manufacturing, imports, exports, or raw production.

Do you have any idea how the country and then news outlets gets its economic data? It is a combination of fact finding, self reporting, and actual ria inventory levels. Analysts make estimates, then the numbers come in.

Every month, quarter, year, I am required by law to fill out manufacturing data, goods moved, etc . And also an annual US census report that has similar data but also includes values, goods moved, employees, imports, exports, goods used, types of inputs and outputs.

Analysts get it right, they go high and they go low. It happens. Then markets react.