U.S. leading indicators index rises 0.1% in Jan.

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The Conference Board today announced that its index of U.S. leading economic indicators rose 0.1 percent last month to 138.5 points (1996 = 100) after rising a revised 0.6 percent in December and 0.1 percent in November.

Last month’s rise was fueled by increases in real money supply, consumer expectations and stock prices, and a decline in initial unemployment claims. Offsetting those positive indicators were declines in manufacturing hours and building permits.

Though still slightly below its high in January 2006, the index has risen 0.7 percent in the past six months, and its six-month growth rate has picked up in the past two months.

“The recent behavior of the leading index still suggests that slow to moderate economic growth is likely to continue in the near term,” the Conference Board said. The U.S. Gross Domestic Product also has picked up speed, it noted, from the third quarter’s 2.0 percent growth to the fourth quarter’s 3.5 percent.

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The Conference Board is a global nonpartisan, nonprofit business membership and research organization whose U.S. offices are in New York City and Chicago. Further information is available at www.conference-board.org.

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