The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. Increased

December 19, 2013

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.8 percent in November to 98.3, following a 0.1 percent increase in October, and a 1.0 percent increase in September.

"The LEI continues on a broad-based upward trend, suggesting gradually strengthening economic conditions through early 2014," said Ataman Ozyildirim, Economist at The Conference Board.  "Improving labor markets and new orders in manufacturing, combined with strong financial indicators, drove November's gain.  However, consumers' outlook for the economy and the drop in housing permits continue to pose risks in 2014."

"November data reflect a U.S. economy that is expanding modestly, discounting some renewal in activity after the government shutdown," said Ken Goldstein, Economist at The Conference Board.  "The coincident economic index shows the economy expanding at a relatively slow pace.  The trend in the leading economic index is stronger, signaling for some time that the economy is developing forward momentum, and will continue to strengthen through early 2014."

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.4 percent in November to 107.2, following a 0.1 percent increase in October, and a 0.3 percent increase in September.

The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index was unchanged in November, remaining at 119.9, following a 0.3 percent increase in October and a 0.6 percent increase in September.

Source: The Conference Board