The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.4 percent in March to 126.7, following a 0.5 percent increase in February and a 0.6 percent increase in January.

“The March increase and upward trend in the U.S. LEI point to continued economic growth in 2017, with perhaps an acceleration later in the year if consumer spending and investment pick up,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, director of business cycles and growth research at The Conference Board. “The gains among the leading indicators were very widespread, with new orders in manufacturing and the interest rate spread more than offsetting declines in the labor market components in March.”

The Coincident Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.2 percent in March to 114.9, following a 0.2 percent increase in February and no change in January.

The Lagging Economic Index for the U.S. was unchanged in March at 123.6, following a 0.2 percent increase in both February and January.