Economic Indicators Show More Growth Ahead

Washington, DC, March 22, 2012 -- The Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators grew 0.7% in February, led by improving jobless claims.

The reading could indicate that the economy will continue expanding through the summer.

“Continued broad-based gains in the LEI for the United States confirm a more positive outlook for general economic activity in the first half of 2012,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, a Conference Board economist, in a press release.

Economists had expected a February gain of 0.6%.

The reading for January was revised to 0.2% from a prior estimate of 0.4%.

For the six months through February the index is up 1.9%, compared with 1.1% in the prior six months.