(03-21-19)
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI)for the U.S. increased 0.2 percent in February to 111.5 (2016 = 100), following no change in January, and a 0.1 percent decline in December. “The US LEI increased in February for the first time in five months,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Director of Economic Research at The Conference Board. “February’s improvement was driven by accommodative financial conditions and a rebound in stock prices, which more than offset weaknesses in the labor market components.
Despite the latest results, the US LEI’s growth rate has slowed over the past six months, suggesting that while the economy will continue to expand in the near-term, its pace of growth could decelerate by year end.” The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the U.S. increased 0.2 percent in February to 105.9 (2016 = 100), following a 0.1 percent increase in January, and a 0.4 percent increase in December. The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index (LAG) for the U.S. was unchanged in February at 107.0 (2016 = 100), 1following a 0.6 percent increase in January and a 0.4 percent increase in December.
