Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators Dips In January - The Conference Board
Leading Economic Indicators Dips In January - The Conference BoardThe Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators declined 0.3% in January, following a 0.3% increase in December, and a 0.3% increase in November according to the Conference Board. The Coincident Index was unchanged in January, following a 1.1% increase in December, and a 0.1% increase in November. The Lagging Index increased 0.3% in January, following a 0.7% decline in December, and a 0.2% decline in November.
Conference Board Economist Ken Goldstein said: "The picture at the start of 2005 is positive, but more spotty than robust. The leading economic indicators dipped in January, following two straight months of improvement. Prior to that, the series had turned down for five straight months, but the declines collectively have been relatively modest. Over the same period, the coincident index has remained positive. The spike in energy prices and the lower dollar took some steam out of the economy. But the larger concern remains cautious attitudes. Business concerns about the direction of cash flow could lead to cautious decisions about hiring and rebuilding inventory."
The Conference Board's Index of Leading Economic Indicators Dips In January
The Conference Board reports today that the Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators declined 0.3% in January, following a 0.3% increase in December, and a 0.3% increase in November.
Says Conference Board Economist Ken Goldstein: "The picture at the start of 2005 is positive, but more spotty than robust. The leading economic indicators dipped in January, following two straight months of improvement. Prior to that, the series had turned down for five straight months, but the declines collectively have been relatively modest. Over the same period, the coincident index has remained positive. The spike in energy prices and the lower dollar took some steam out of the economy. But the larger concern remains cautious attitudes. Business concerns about the direction of cash flow could lead to cautious decisions about hiring and rebuilding inventory."
Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators Dips In January - The Conference Board
The Conference Board also reports that the Coincident Index was unchanged in January, following a 1.1% increase in December, and a 0.1% increase in November. The Lagging Index increased 0.3% in January, following a 0.7% decline in December, and a 0.2% decline in November.
The Conference Board(R) U.S. Business Cycle Indicators(SM)
U.S. Leading Economic Indicators and related composite indexes for January
2005
The Conference Board announced today that the U.S. leading index decreased 0.3 percent, the coincident index remained unchanged and the lagging index increased 0.3 percent in January.
* The leading index declined in January, but this follows increases in
the previous two months, and there were significant upward revisions to
the leading index from August to December. In addition, there has
been more widespread strength in the leading indicators in recent
months, with weakness concentrated in vendor performance and the
interest rate spread.
* The coincident index, an index of current economic activity, held
steady in January, and the strength in the coincident index continues
to be widespread. At the same time, the growth rate of real GDP has
been fluctuating around a 3.5 percent annual rate since the second
quarter of 2004, including 3.1 percent in the fourth quarter.
* The leading index was on a rising trend from early 2003 to the middle
of 2004, but has now fluctuated around a flat trend over the last six
or seven months (which is below its long-term trend of a 1.5 percent
annual rate). The recent behavior of the leading index is consistent
with the economy continuing to expand in the near term, but more slowly
than its long-term average growth rate.
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