The category is considered a good barometer of industry's investment plans.

"Students are a pretty good barometer on society," he was saying, "and what they're teaching us is that society's values have shifted."

"The more the better, obviously, but 10 or 12 is a pretty good barometer to start with."

"Iowa is a good barometer of political candidates," he said.

"I think that's a good barometer for the ease of doing business here."

He feels quite strongly that age alone is not a good barometer of ability.

It's also a good barometer of new trends in art.

The cover letter is also a good barometer from which to gauge the person who wrote it.

"And that's a good barometer for the tourism industry here," he said.

While not official, that rule has proved to be a pretty good barometer.