Stock indexes and averages play an important role in monitoring the health of the United States economy.  One of the most well-known, and second oldest, stock market indexes in the country is the Dow Jones Industrial Average.  26

On this day, May 26th, in 1896, the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average was published by Charles Dow.  The original index included the average of 12 stocks from leading American industries: the American Cotton Oil Company; the American Sugar Company, The American Tobacco Company, The Chicago Gas Company; the Distilling & Cattle Feeding Company; the Laclede Gas Company; the National Lead Company; the Tennessee Coal, iron and Railroad Company; the U.S. Leather Company; and the United States Rubber Company.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted, scaled average that accounted for the effects of stock splits and adjustments.

Since the original average was published, most components of the Down Jones Industrial Average would not be considered “industrial.”  The average has grown to include 30 modern-day stocks.  Amongst the members on today’s Dow Jones average include: American Express; AT&T; General Electric; Coca-Cola, Microsoft; McDonald’s and Walmart.