Lagging indicators are metrics that reflect the performance of an economy or business after changes have occurred. They provide insights into trends and patterns, helping analysts understand the effectiveness of past decisions. Common examples include unemployment rates and gross domestic product (GDP), which show the state of the economy after certain events have taken place. These indicators are useful for confirming trends but are not effective for predicting future performance. Since they are based on historical data, they can help organizations and policymakers assess the impact of their strategies and make informed decisions moving forward, but they do not provide real-time insights.