Conference Board News Release (09/20/12)

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. declined 0.1% in August to 95.7, following a 0.5% increase in July, and a 0.5% decline in June. Ataman Ozyildirim, economist at the Conference Board, says: “The U.S. LEI has declined in three of the last six months. While its six-month growth rate has slowed substantially, it still remains in growth territory due to positive contributions from the financial components including stock prices, yield spread, and the Leading Credit Index. Over the last several months, the U.S. LEI seems to be fluctuating around a flat trend, while strengths and weaknesses among its components remain balanced.”