The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. Increased in December

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Jan 23, 2014, 10:00 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.1 percent in December to 99.4 (2004 = 100), following a 1.0 percent increase in November, and a 0.1 percent increase in October.

"Despite month-to-month volatility in the final quarter of 2013, the U.S. LEI continues to point to gradually strengthening economic conditions through early 2014," said Ataman Ozyildirim, Economist at The Conference Board. "The LEI was lifted by its financial components in December, but consumer expectations for business conditions and residential construction continue to pose risks."

"This latest report suggests steady growth this spring, but some uncertainties remain," said Ken Goldstein, Economist at The Conference Board. "Business caution and concern about unresolved federal budget battles persist, but the better-than-expected holiday season might point to sustained stronger demand and could put the U.S on a faster growth track for 2014."

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for the U.S. increased 0.2 percent in December to 108.1 (2004 = 100), following a 0.4 percent increase in November, and a 0.1 percent increase in October.

The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index® (LAG) for the U.S. increased 0.3 percent in December to 121.2 (2004 = 100), following no change in November, and a 0.3 percent rise in October.

Summary Table of Composite Economic Indexes
	2013						6-month
	Oct		Nov		Dec		Jun to Dec

Leading index	98.3	r	99.3	r	99.4	p
Percent Change	0.1	r	1.0	r	0.1	p	3.4
Diffusion	65.0		70.0		55.0		70.0

Coincident Index	107.5	r	107.9	r	108.1	p
Percent Change	0.1	r	0.4		0.2	p	1.3
Diffusion	75.0		100.0		100.0		100.0

Lagging Index	120.8	r	120.8	r	121.2	p
Percent Change	0.3		0.0		0.3	p	1.6
Diffusion	64.3		50.0		64.3		64.3

n.a. Not available p Preliminary r Revised
Indexes equal 100 in 2004
Source: The Conference Board

About The Conference Board Leading Economic Index^®(LEI) for the U.S.
The composite economic indexes are the key elements in an analytic system designed to signal peaks and troughs in the business cycle. The leading, coincident, and lagging economic indexes are essentially composite averages of several individual leading, coincident, or lagging indicators. They are constructed to summarize and reveal common turning point patterns in economic data in a clearer and more convincing manner than any individual component – primarily because they smooth out some of the volatility of individual components.

The ten components of The Conference Board Leading Economic Index^® for the U.S. include:

Average weekly hours, manufacturing
Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance
Manufacturers' new orders, consumer goods and materials
ISM Index of New Orders
Manufacturers' new orders, nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft orders
Building permits, new private housing units
Stock prices, 500 common stocks
Leading Credit Index™
Interest rate spread, 10-year Treasury bonds less federal funds
Average consumer expectations for business conditions

For full press release and technical notes:
http://www.conference-board.org/data/bcicountry.cfm?cid=1

For more information about The Conference Board global business cycle indicators:
http://www.conference-board.org/data/bci.cfm

About The Conference Board

The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. Our mission is unique: To provide the world's leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance and better serve society. The Conference Board is a non-advocacy, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org

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