Datasets
Each index counts how often the news reports a given kind of uncertainty, month by month. The data is free to use under a CC BY 4.0 licence; please cite the paper that goes with it. Suggestions for improvements and new indices are welcome.
Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU), Portugal
How often Portuguese news articles discuss the economy, economic policy and uncertainty together, each month since January 1998. The index averages 100 over the whole period, so a reading of 150 means 50% more coverage than usual.
The dashed line is the average, 100. Dots mark events from the paper’s timeline. Hover over the chart, or tap it, to read a month.
Cite: Morão, H. (2024). An economic policy uncertainty index for Portugal. International Economics, 178, 100481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inteco.2024.100481
Energy Transportation Uncertainty (ETU), world
How often English-language media around the world report threats to the transport of oil and gas, such as attacks on pipelines and tankers, each month since January 1969. The index averages 100 over the whole period. The early years draw on few sources, so some months read zero.
The dashed line is the average, 100. Dots mark events from the paper’s timeline. Hover over the chart, or tap it, to read a month.
Cite: Morão, H. (2025). The economic effects of tensions in energy transportation. Research in Transportation Economics, 112, 101598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2025.101598
Coming soon
- Climate Policy Uncertainty (CPU), Portugal
- Fertiliser Supply (FS), world
- Rare-earth Supply (RES), world