LEI Rises Again, 0.1%

The Conference Board Economist Ataman Ozyildirim, noted that, “The LEI for the U.S. has risen rapidly for almost a year now and it has reached its highest level. But, the sharp pick up in the LEI appears to be stabilizing. As the economy moves from recovery into early phases of an expansion, the leading economic index points to moderately improving economic conditions in the near term.”

The rate of increase in the 6-month trend of the LEI has fallen for the six months ended in February, however, to an 8.9% annualized rate from a 12.8% annualized rate for the six months through last September.