The CREA Business Cycle Indexes (BCI) are converted into different colors, enabling us to monitor Swiss business cycle conditions at the cantonal, regional, and national levels. The colors on the heatmap indicate whether the situation in the economy studied is improving or deteriorating (i.e. the dynamics compared to the previous month). They also indicate whether economic developments are better or worse than the average represented by the zero line (i.e. the dynamics in relation to the long-term trend).

We define 10 categories of business cycle conditions ranging from dark blue to red: (1) the BCI is above trend and increases at increasing rate; (2) the BCI is above trend and increases at decreasing rate; (3) the BCI is above trend and goes from increase to decrease; (4) the BCI is above trend and decreases at decreasing rate; (5) the BCI is above trend and decreases at increasing rate; (6) the BCI is below trend and increases at increasing rate; (7) the BCI is below trend and increases at decreasing rate; (8) the BCI is below trend and goes from increase to decrease; (9) the BCI is below trend and decreases at decreasing rate; and (10) the BCI is below trend and decreases at increasing rate.