Conference Board LEI for the Euro Area Increased in October

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The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the Euro Area increased 0.4 percent to 108.2 (2010=100) in October, following no change in September and a 0.1 percent increase in August.

“The LEI for the Euro Area increased in October, with the yield spread, consumer expectations and stock prices as the major drivers of the improvement. Both the LEI and the CEI have returned to levels last seen in July 2011, at the outset of the most recent recession in the Euro Area.” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Director of Business Cycles and Growth Research at The Conference Board. “Overall, the growth in the LEI suggests the economic expansion should continue into 2016, unless negative sentiment or the weakness in industrial activity and manufacturing new orders becomes more persistent.”

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for the Euro Area, which measures current economic activity, was unchanged in October. The index now stands at 100.8* (2010 = 100). The CEI increased 0.1 percent in September and remained unchanged in August.

About The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the Euro Area

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® for the Euro Area was launched in January 2009. Plotted back to 1987, this index has successfully signaled turning points in the business cycle of the bloc of countries that now constitute the Euro Area, defined by the common currency zone.