Conference Board News Release (01/23/14)

The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index for the U.S. edged up 0.1% to 99.4 in December, following on the heels of 1.0% and 0.1% gains in November and October, respectively. The Coincident Economic Index for the U.S. rose 0.2% to 108.1 last month, while the Lagging Economic Index climbed 0.3% to 121.2.

“Business caution and concern about unresolved federal budget battles persist, but the better-than-expected holiday season might point to sustained stronger demand and could put the U.S. on a faster growth track for 2014,” says Ken Goldstein, an economist at the Conference Board.