23 September 2009

Leading indicators rise again

The index of leading indicators rose for the fifth consecutive month in August, offering yet another sign of a recovering U.S. economy.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.6 percent in August, following a 0.9 percent gain in July, and a 0.8 percent rise in June.

“Since reaching a peak in July 2007, the LEI fell for 20 months—the longest downtrend since the mid 1970s—but it has been rising since April, and its gains have become very widespread,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, economist at The Conference Board.

For related information, go to www.isa.org/productivity.