WASHINGTON D.C. — In a groundbreaking shift, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) announced today that the box score from the recent USA vs. Mexico World Baseball Classic game has been officially adopted as the nation's foremost leading economic indicator. Experts claim its intricate data points, from RBIs to strikeout totals, provide unprecedented insight into future market trends.

“Forget GDP, inflation rates, or consumer confidence surveys,” stated Dr. Evelyn Thorne, lead economist at the NBER. “The sheer volume of runs scored, or the precise number of errors committed, offers a more granular and, frankly, more entertaining forecast of the next quarter’s economic performance. A high on-base percentage, for instance, correlates directly with robust consumer spending.”

The move has sent shockwaves through financial markets, with traders now meticulously studying past game results for clues. Investment firms are reportedly hiring former baseball statisticians and fantasy league enthusiasts, sidelining traditional financial analysts. “My 401k is now entirely dependent on whether a designated hitter can get a timely single,” commented bewildered investor Mark Jensen.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is expected to announce interest rate decisions based on the collective batting average of the starting nine, while the Treasury Department is reportedly considering pegging the national debt to the number of stolen bases in international play. The NBER has also hinted that future policy decisions might be influenced by the quality of dugout celebrations.

Critics argue that the NBER's methodology is, at best, speculative. However, Dr. Thorne quickly dismissed such concerns, adding, “Look, it’s certainly no less arbitrary than half the models we were using before.”