Leading Economic Indicators Point to Potential Growth
The Leading Economic Index eased up 0.1% to 95.2 for May, according to a Conference Board report (link opens a PDF) released today.
After increasing a revised 0.8% in April, this newest report falls just short of analysts' expectations of 0.2% gains. The Conference Board's Leading Economic Index attempts to identify economic turning points by aggregating a variety of indicators. It uses 2004 as a benchmark 100 score, and dropped as low as 78 in 2009, and reached as high as 108 in 2006.
According to Conference Board economist Ataman Ozyildirim, the month's lack of growth points to signs of a "resilient" economy with potential additional 2013 growth, rather than any signs of stagnation. Ken Goldstein, another Conference Board economist, pointed to several economic indicators as necessary pressure points for economic improvement:
Growth will depend on continued improvement in the housing market and an easing of consumer and business caution which would allow overall consumption and investment to gain traction. Cutbacks in public spending programs and the drag from foreign trade remain headwinds. [Links added by author.]
The article Leading Economic Indicators Point to Potential Growth originally appeared on Fool.com.
You can follow Justin Loiseau on Twitter @TMFJLo and on Motley Fool CAPS @TMFJLo.Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
