US Business Cycle Index Climbs Higher in August

Source: The Conference Board

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index, which measures US business cycles, expanded at a faster rate in August to extend the upward trajectory.

• The Leading Economic Index stood at 117.1, marking a 0.9% growth from 116.0 the previous month. This is faster than the 0.8% growth in July and 0.6% in June.
• The Coincident Economic Index jumped by 0.2% to 105.9, after a 0.6% climb in July and 0.5% growth in June.
• The Lagging Economic Index increased by 0.1% to 106.3, slower than the 0.5% climb in July but a reversal of the 0.1% decline in June.
• Economic Research Senior Director Ataman Ozyildirim warned that the COVID-19 delta variant and inflation fears could create hit labor and consumer spending.
• Ozyildirim noted that the LEI is consistent with “robust” economic growth for the rest of the year, with real GDP growth predicted at 6.0% before moderating to 4.0% in 2022