The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. Remained Unchanged in May

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The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. was unchanged in May, remaining at 111.8 (2016 = 100), following a 0.1% increase in April, and a 0.2% increase in March.

“The US LEI was unchanged in May, following three consecutive increases,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, director of economic research at The Conference Board. “Positive contributions from financial conditions and consumers’ outlook offset the weakness in stock prices and the manufacturing sector. The yield spread’s contribution to the LEI was neither positive nor negative. While the economic expansion is now entering its eleventh year, the longest in US history, the LEI clearly points to a moderation in growth towards 2% by year end.”

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the U.S. increased 0.2% in May to 105.9 (2016 = 100), following a 0.1% increase in April, and a 0.1% increase in March. 

The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index (LAG) for the U.S. declined 0.2% in May to 107.0 (2016 = 100), following a 0.1% decline in April and a 0.2% increase in March. 

About The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S.

The composite economic indexes are the key elements in an analytic system designed to signal peaks and troughs in the business cycle. The leading, coincident, and lagging economic indexes are essentially composite averages of several individual leading, coincident, or lagging indicators. They are constructed to summarize and reveal common turning point patterns in economic data in a clearer and more convincing manner than any individual component—primarily because they smooth out some of the volatility of individual components.