The composite of the Leading Economic Index was up 0.4% in November following an unrevised 1.2% increase in October, the Conference Board reported Thursday.
The coincident index gained 0.3% in November after an unrevised 0.3% rise in October, while the lagging index grew 0.1% in November, after a 0.3% increase in October, first reported as a 0.2% gain.
The LEI stands at 130.9, the coincident index is at 116.5 and the lagging index is at 125.6 The LEI has a baseline of 100, which reflects the level in 2010.
Economists polled by IFR Markets predicted LEI would be up 0.2% in the month.
“The U.S. LEI rose again in November, suggesting that solid economic growth will continue into the first half of 2018,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, director of business cycles and growth research at The Conference Board. “In recent months, unemployment insurance claims have returned to pre-hurricane levels. In addition, improving financial indicators, new orders in manufacturing and historically high consumer sentiment have propelled the U.S. LEI even higher.”
