Index Value Plot

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An index value plot shows data in relation to a certain index value. The graph doesn't start at zero because the index value is used as the baseline to reference the value along the graph. The index value plot is used because it easily distinguishes when the plotted values go above or below the index value. The image shown above is an example of an index value plot that shows the I.S.M. Non-Manufacturing Index from 1997-2009 with the index value of 50 where the plotted value can be observed to go below the index value during times of recession.