The composite index of Leading Economic Indicators was down 0.2% in December following a 0.5% gain in November, first reported as a 0.4% increase, the Conference Board reported Friday.
The coincident index gained 0.1% in December after an unrevised 0.1% rise in November, while the lagging index grew 0.2% after an unrevised 0.3% rise in November.
The LEI stands at 123.7, the coincident index is at 113.0 and the lagging index is at 119.9 The LEI has a baseline of 100, which reflects the level in 2010.
"The U.S. LEI fell slightly in December, led by a drop in housing permits and weak new orders in manufacturing," said Ataman Ozyildirim, director of business cycles and growth research at The Conference Board. "However, the index continues to suggest moderate growth in the near-term despite the economy losing some momentum at the end of 2015. While the LEI's growth rate has been on the decline, it's too early to interpret this as a substantial rise in the risk of recession."
