TREND

1. trend means the tendency of statistics to average out up, level or down over several weeks or even months as long as the situation remains. Trends can be anything from danger to power, depending on the slant and its steepness. An upward trend even if only slightly upward shows people are trying and level or downward shows it is in trouble. Trend is the overall measure of expansion or contraction and is the most valuable of statistic messages. (HCO PL 3 Oct 70) Trend (Def. 1) 2. long range drifts up or down. (HCO PL 20 Oct 67)