Leading Indicators Point to Improving Economy

New York, NY, Dec. 17, 2009–The index of leading economic indicators rose for the eighth straight month, the Conference Board said Thursday.

The leading indicators increased 0.9% in November after a 0.3% gain in October, the private research group said, and points to an improving economy in 2010

Six of the 10 leading indicators were positive. The index is up at a 9.6% annual pace in the last six months.

Economists expected the index to rise 0.8%.

“Looking ahead, we can expect a slowly improving economy through 2010,” said Ken Goldstein, an economist at the Conference Board.

In November, six of the 10 leading indicators improved: the interest-rate spread, stock prices, jobless claims, average hours worked in manufacturing, the real money supply, and building permits.

Three indicators were negative: consumer expectations, delivery times, and capital equipment orders.