Insider trading requires material, non-public information about a publicly traded firm, which the Michigan Survey is not. Additionally, there are regulations which pertain to releases from the the Treasury and the Departments of Labor and Commerce which also would not apply to the Michigan number.
The Michigan Survey is one (probably the most prominent) of a number of private surveys and data point the big banks, but also include things like National Association of Purchasing Managers Survey, LA Port Traffic, Mortgage Banking Association Mortgage Applications, American Institute of Architecture Billing Index (leading indicator of construction), and a host of others.
The Michigan Survey is one (probably the most prominent) of a number of private surveys and data point the big banks, but also include things like National Association of Purchasing Managers Survey, LA Port Traffic, Mortgage Banking Association Mortgage Applications, American Institute of Architecture Billing Index (leading indicator of construction), and a host of others.