Leading Indicators Point to Improving Economy

New York, NY, Dec. 17, 2009--The index of leading economic indicators rose for the eighth straight month, the Conference Board said Thursday.

The leading indicators increased 0.9% in November after a 0.3% gain in October, the private research group said, and points to an improving economy in 2010

Six of the 10 leading indicators were positive. The index is up at a 9.6% annual pace in the last six months.

Economists expected the index to rise 0.8%.

"Looking ahead, we can expect a slowly improving economy through 2010," said Ken Goldstein, an economist at the Conference Board.

In November, six of the 10 leading indicators improved: the interest-rate spread, stock prices, jobless claims, average hours worked in manufacturing, the real money supply, and building permits.

Three indicators were negative: consumer expectations, delivery times, and capital equipment orders.