Conference Board News Release (07/18/14)

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.3% in June to 102.2, following a 0.7% increase in May. The Coincident Economic Index increased 0.2% in June to 109.2, following a 0.3% increase in May. The Lagging Economic Index increased 0.5% in June to 124.4, following a 0.3% increase in May.

“Broad-based increases in the LEI over the last six months signal an economy that is expanding in the near term and may even somewhat accelerate in the second half,” says Ataman Ozyildirim, an economist at the Conference Board. “Housing permits, the weakest indicator during this period, reflect some risk to this improving outlook. But favorable financial conditions, generally positive trends in the labor markets, and the outlook for new orders in manufacturing have offset the housing market weakness over the past six months.”