Global| Mar 20 2008U.S. Leading Economic Indicators Fell For Fifth Month
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
The Conference Board reported that the composite index of leading economic indicators fell 0.3% last month and matched Consensus expectations. A January decline of 0.1% reported initially was revised to show a larger 0.4% drop. It was [...]
The Conference Board reported that the composite index of leading economic indicators fell 0.3% last month and matched Consensus expectations. A January decline of 0.1% reported initially was revised to show a larger 0.4% drop. It was the fifth consecutive monthly decline.
During the last ten years there has been a 59% correlation between the y/y change in the leading indicators index and the lagged change in real GDP.
The breadth of one month increase amongst the 10 components of the leading index remained at the January level of 45%. Over a six month period, the breadth of gain amongst the leaders components remained at 20%, the lowest level since 2002.
Last month higher claims for jobless insurance, lower building permits, faster vendor performance and lower stock prices made the largest negative contributions to the overall leading index.
The method of calculating the contribution to the leading index from the spread between 10 year Treasury securities and the Fed funds rate has been revised. A negative contribution will now occur only when the spread inverts rather than when declining as in the past. More details can be found here.
The leading index is based on eight previously reported economic data series. Two series, orders for consumer goods and orders for capital goods, are estimated.
The coincident indicators were unchanged for the third consecutive month. Over the last ten years there has been an 86% correlation between the y/y change in the coincident indicators and real GDP growth. Half of the coincident series components fell.
The lagging index rose slightly as the average duration of unemployment rose and C&I loans increased. The ratio of coincident to lagging indicators (a measure of economic excess) fell yet again and was at its lowest since 1982.Visit the Conference Board's site for coverage of leading indicator series from around the world.
On the Needed Quantity of Government Debt from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is available here.
| Business Cycle Indicators | February | January | Y/Y | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leading | -0.3% | -0.4% | -1.5% | -0.4% | 1.2% | 2.5% |
| Coincident | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 1.8% | 2.5% | 2.1% |
| Lagging | 0.2% | 0.1% | 2.3% | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.5% |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
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