Research >> Economics
U.S. Leading Economic Index increased 0.5%
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The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.5 percent in December to 121.1 (2010 = 100), following a 0.4 percent increase in November, and a 0.6 percent increase October.
December’s gain in the LEI was driven by a majority of its components, suggesting the short-term outlook is getting brighter and the economy continues to build momentum. Still, a lack of growth in residential construction and average weekly hours in manufacturing remains a concern. Current economic conditions measured by the coincident indicators show employment and income gains are helping to keep the U.S. economy on a solid expansionary path despite some weakness in industrial production.
The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for the U.S. increased 0.2 percent in December to 111.4 (2010 = 100), following a 0.5 percent increase in November, and a 0.3 percent increase in October.
The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index® (LAG) for the U.S. increased 0.3 percent in December to 115.0 (2010 = 100), following a 0.3 percent increase in November, and no change in October.
This month's release will incorporates annual benchmark revisions to the composite economic indexes, which bring them up-to-date with revisions in the source data. Also, with this benchmark revision, the base year of the composite indexes was changed to 2010 = 100 from 2004 = 100. These revisions do not change the cyclical properties of the indexes. The indexes are updated throughout the year, but only for the previous six months. Data revisions that fall outside of the moving six-month window are not incorporated until the benchmark revision is made and the entire histories of the indexes are recomputed. As a result, the revised indexes, in levels and month-on-month changes, will not be directly comparable to those issued prior to the benchmark revision.
Posted: January 23, 2015 Friday 10:00 AM