Leading Economic Indicators Up Four Months in Row

New York, NY, Sept. 23, 2011 -- The Conference Board said that its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.3% in August, the fourth consecutive increase.

That means the economy will likely expand slowly this fall at a weak pace.

The improvement in August mostly resulted from an improvement in financial conditions, such as low interest rates.

Only four of the 10 measures that the Conference Board uses to compile its index showed improvement in August. Building permits rose in one encouraging sign for construction.