Looking for a word to describe a misleading numerical indicator

Question

I'm looking for a word that describes a misleading numerical indicator, one that does not give the entire picture or truth, or one that distracts from the issue.
For example, measurements of average salary are misleading because they can be skewed by few high-income earners.
The word "skew" is not appropriate, because it is specifically about a statistical distribution that changes its shape. I'm looking for something more general, that can be used in sentences like:
The X that is average salary

or
Average salary is (a) X

Maybe something like "red herring" but for numbers?
Less commonly used words or semi-archaic words are acceptable.

user405662 · Answer

I suggest false signal defined by Wiktionary:

An event or emanation to which a sensing device gives an undesired positive response.

Other than that, bad indicator seems to me a pretty good choice.

Chemomechanics · Answer

Since you've noted "red herring", I assume a pair of words could be acceptable:
Junk/misleading/undependable/distorted/misrepresentative + metric/parameter/indicator/stat[istic]. Combine as suits the context. For a formal journal article, "misrepresentative indicator"; for a campaign speech, "junk stat".

Looking for a word to describe a misleading numerical indicator

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