For channel 4, they built a diorama containing a rain gauge, barometer, thermometer, wind gauge, and clock, pointed a videocamera at it, and launched the first weather channel.

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Separately, a rise in new orders boosted the Chicago Business Barometer, a gauge of the U.S. manufacturing sector, to its highest level since March 2012, also trumping expectations.

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The best gauge would be the price of gold, a largely accurate barometer as to whether we have too much, too little or a sufficient amount of credit.

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