The composite index of Leading Economic Indicators was up 0.2% in February following an unrevised 0.2% rise in January, the Conference Board reported Thursday.
The coincident index gained 0.2% in February after an unrevised 0.2% rise in January, while the lagging index grew 0.3% after an unrevised 0.3% rise in January.
The LEI stands at 121.4, the coincident index is at 111.9 and the lagging index is at 115.8 The LEI has a baseline of 100, which reflects the level in 2010.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters predicted LEI would grow 0.3% in the month.
"Widespread gains among the leading indicators continue to point to short-term growth," said Ataman Ozyildirim, an economist at The Conference Board. "However, easing in the LEI's six-month change suggests that we may be entering a period of more moderate expansion. With the February increase, the LEI remains in growth territory, but weakness in the industrial sector and business investment is holding economic growth back, despite improvements in labor markets and consumer confidence."
