Conference Board News Release (05/21/15)

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.7% in April to 122.3, following a 0.4% increase in March.

“April’s sharp increase in the LEI seems to have helped stabilize its slowing trend, suggesting the paltry economic growth in the first quarter may be temporary,” says Ataman Ozyildirim, economist at the Conference Board. “However, the growth of the LEI does not support a significant strengthening in the economic outlook at this time. The improvement in building permits helped to drive the index up this month, but gains in other components, in particular the financial indicators, have been somewhat more muted.”

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.2% in April to 112.0, following a 0.1% decline in March. The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index increased 0.1% in April to 116.6, following a 0.5% increase in March.