The index tracks credit-card purchases of diesel fuel at truckstops across the country and provides a real-time indication of how much freight is moving from ports and factories to consumers.

FORBES: Truckers Say Market's Wrong, Economy Grows

Upon check-in, you were issued an index card that was either pink and read EXAM in Magic Marker or was purple and tagged COLLECTION.

CNN: We Work For You!

As the Fiscal Cliff debate diffuses into so many Three-Card Monte games during 2013, perhaps the clarity of the Government Affordability Index can prevent us from being tricked, over and over and over again.

FORBES: We Need To Reign In The Government Affordability Index