Data for a number of individuals, firms, industries, or countries relating to the same time period. This is contrasted with time-series data, where figures for the same individual, firm, industry, or country are given in successive time periods. Cross-section data on personal savings, for example, allow a relation between income and savings to be calculated. The propensity to save derived from a cross-section study can be compared with that derived from time-series data.

• break-even
• break-up value
• Bretton Woods
• broad money
• broker
• brokerage
• bubble
• budget
• budget constraint
• budget deficit
• budgeting, zero-base
• budget line
• budget surplus
• budget year
• buffer stock
• building and loan association
• building society
• built-in stabilizers
• bull
• bullion
• bull market
• Bundesbank
• bundle of goods
• burden
• Bureau of Economic Analysis