(09-19-19)
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. was unchanged in August, remaining at 112.1 (2016 = 100), following a 0.4 percent increase in July, and no change in June. “The US LEI remained unchanged in August, following a large increase in July. Housing permits and the Leading Credit Index offset the weakness in the index from the manufacturing sector and the interest rate spread,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Senior Director of Economic Research at The Conference Board. “The recent trends in the LEI are consistent with a slow but still expanding economy, which has been primarily driven by strong consumer spending and robust job growth.” The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the U.S. increased 0.3 percent in August to 106.4 (2016 = 100), following no change in July, and a 0.3 percent increase in June. The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index (LAG) for the U.S. declined 0.3 percent in August to 108.2 (2016 = 100), following a 0.6 percent increase in July, and a 0.5 percent increase in June.
