Leading Economic Index Falls In August

The Conference Board said the U.S. leading index decreased 0.2 percent, the coincident index increased 0.2 percent, and the lagging index decreased 0.1 percent in August. The leading index decreased slightly in August, its second consecutive fall. As actual and revised data for the manufacturing new orders components became available, July’s slight increase was revised down to a small decrease and there were small downward revisions to the previous expectations.

The leading index now stands at 137.6 (1996=100). Based on revised data, this index decreased 0.1 percent in July and increased 1.1 percent in June. During the six-month span through August, the leading index increased 0.4 percent, with five out of 10 components advancing.