{{Short description|Economic measurement}}In economics, a '''base period''' or '''reference period''' is a point in time used as a reference point for comparison with other periods.<ref name="uslabor">{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/bls/glossary.htm|title=BLS Information |date=February 28, 2008|work=Glossary|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Information Services |accessdate=2009-05-05| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090506220213/http://www.bls.gov/bls/glossary.htm| archivedate= 6 May 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="investopedia">{{cite web|url=http://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baseperiod.asp|title=Base Period|publisher=Investopedia|accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref> It is generally used as a benchmark for measuring financial or economic data.<ref name="investw">{{cite web|url=http://www.investorwords.com/429/base_period.html|title=base period|publisher=investorwords.com|accessdate=2009-05-05|archive-date=2009-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822090706/http://www.investorwords.com/429/base_period.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Base periods typically provide a point of reference for economic studies, consumer demand, and unemployment benefit claims.
In public transport scheduling, the base period is the period of reduced service on weekdays that generally exists between the morning and afternoon rush hours.
==See also== * Base period price * Bureau of Labor Statistics * Economic indicator * Gross domestic product * Consumer price index
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.bls.gov/bls/glossary.htm Base period in glossary], U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Information Services * [http://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baseperiod.asp Base Period], Investopedia
Category:Economic data Category:Public transport
{{econ-stub}}