Research >> Economics
U.S. leading economic index increased 1.0%
|
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index™ (LEI) for the U.S. increased 1.0 percent, The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index™ (CEI) decreased 0.2 percent and The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index™ (LAG) decreased 0.5 percent in April.
The Conference Board LEI for the U.S. rose sharply in April, the first increase in seven months, and the strengths among its components exceeded the weaknesses for the first time in one and a half years. Stock prices, the interest rate spread, consumer expectations, initial unemployment claims, the average workweek, and supplier deliveries all contributed positively to the index this month, more than offsetting the negative contributions from real money supply and building permits. The six-month change in the index has risen to -0.6 percent (a -1.2 percent annual rate) in the period through April 2009, up from -2.4 percent (a -4.8 percent annual rate) from April to October 2008. However, the weaknesses among the components have remained widespread over the past six-month period.
The Conference Board CEI for the U.S. fell again in April, driven by continued declines in employment and industrial production. The index decreased 3.5 percent (about a -6.9 percent annual rate) between October 2008 and April 2009, faster than the decline of 1.8 percent (a -3.5 percent annual rate) for the previous six months. In April, the lagging economic index for the U.S. fell more than the coincident economic index, and the coincident-to-lagging ratio rose, as a result. Meanwhile, real GDP contracted at a 6.1 percent annual rate in the first quarter of 2009, following a decline of 6.3 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2008.
The Conference Board LEI for the U.S. has been generally falling since the middle of 2007, but the pace of its decline has slowed substantially in recent months. With this month's sharp and widespread increase, the six-month decline in the index is at its slowest since the fourth quarter of 2007. Meanwhile, The Conference Board CEI for the U.S. continues to be on a downward trend that began in late 2007, and its decrease in recent months remains sharp. Taken together, the behavior of the composite economic indexes suggests that the contraction in economic activity will continue in the near term, but will likely become less severe in upcoming months.
Posted: May 21, 2009 Thursday 10:00 AM