The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. edged up 0.1% in February to 112.1 (2016 = 100), following a 0.7% increase in January, and a 0.3% decline in December.
“The U.S. LEI rose slightly in February, but it doesn’t reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which began to hit the U.S. economy in full by early March. The slight gain in February came only from half of the LEI components. In particular, the recovery in manufacturing, which looked promising until February, will now be short-lived because of the disruption in global supply chains and falling demand,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, senior director of economic research at The Conference Board. “Declines in stock prices, consumers’ outlook on economic conditions, manufacturing new orders, average workweek in manufacturing, and rising unemployment claims will begin to negatively impact the economy. As a result, the economy may already be entering into a period of contraction.”
The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the U.S. increased 0.3% in February to 107.6 (2016 = 100), following a 0.1% increase in January, and no change in December.
The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index (LAG) for the U.S. increased 0.4% in February to 109.1 (2016 = 100), following no change in January and a 0.1% decline in December.
