Index of U.S. Leading Economic Indicators Rose 0.3% in December
The
Index of Leading Economic Indicators in U.S. increased 0.3% in December,
following a revised flat figure in November and a slight decline in
October, according to the Conference Board. The coincident index increased
0.2% and the lagging index increased 0.9% in December.
Six of the ten indicators that make up the leading index increased in December. The positive contributors — beginning with the largest positive contributor — were building permits, average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance (inverted), real money supply* , stock prices, vendor performance and manufacturers' new orders for nondefense capital goods*.
The negative contributors — beginning with the largest negative contributor — were interest rate spread and index of consumer expectations. The average weekly manufacturing hours and manufacturers' new orders for consumer goods and materials* held steady in December.
The leading index now stands at 138.0 (1996=100). During the six-month span through December, the leading index increased 0.1 percent, with four out of ten components advancing (diffusion index, six-month span equals forty percent).
Sources & Related Commentary:
- The Conference Board U.S. Leading Index Increased 0.3 Percent - TCB
- US Leading Economic Indicators Index Rose 0.3% in December - Bloomberg
- Economic indicators index rises in Dec. - CNNMoney.com
- Gauge rises 0.3% for December, biggest gain since September - MarketWatch
- The Conference Board(R) US Business Cycle Indicators(SM) - PR Newswire
