Conference Board News Release (12/18/14)

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.6% in November to 105.5, following a 0.6% increase in October. “The increase in the LEI signals continued moderate growth through the winter season,” says Ken Goldstein, economist at the Conference Board. “The biggest challenge has been, and remains, more income growth. However, with labor market conditions tightening, we are seeing the first signs of wage growth starting to pick up.”

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.4% in November to 110.7, following a 0.2% increase in October. The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.3% in November to 125.4, following no change in October. “Widespread and persistent gains in the LEI point to strong underlying conditions in the U.S. economic expansion,” says Ataman Ozyildirim, economist at the Conference Board. “The current situation, measured by the coincident economic index, has been improving steadily, with employment and industrial production making the largest contributions in November.”