The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. declined 0.2 percent in November, following a 0.3 percent increase in October and a 0.4 percent increase in September. The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) increased 0.2 percent, and the Conference Board Lagging Economic Index (LAG) increased 0.4 percent.

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“The U.S. LEI decreased slightly in November, bringing its six-month growth rate to zero,” says Ataman Ozyildirim, economist at The Conference Board. “The LEI points to increasing risks of slowing economic activity in the near term, but the coincident economic index, measuring current conditions, continued to increase in November. Gains in the residential construction and financial components of the LEI have been roughly balanced with weak consumer expectations, manufacturing new orders and labor market indicators over the last six months.”

“The indicators reflect an economy that remains weak in the face of strong domestic and international headwinds, as it faces a looming fiscal cliff. Growth will likely be slow through the early months of 2013,” says Ken Goldstein, economist at The Conference Board.

The CEI's 0.2 percent November increase to 104.9 follows a 0.1 percent increase in October and a 0.2 percent increase in September.

The 0.4 percent LAG increase in November to 117.8 follows a 0.3 percent increase in October and no change in September.