The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.7 percent in September to 97.1 (2004 = 100), following a 0.7 percent increase in August and a 0.4 percent increase in July, according to The Conference Board. The CEI and LAG increased 0.2 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, in September.

“The September LEI suggests the economy was expanding modestly and possibly gaining momentum before the government shutdown,” said Ken Goldstein, economist at The Conference Board. “Beyond the immediate fallout of the shutdown, the biggest challenge is whether relatively weak consumer demand, pinned down by weak wage growth and low levels of confidence, will recover during the final stretch of 2013 and into 2014.”

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.2 percent in September to 106.6 (2004 = 100), following a 0.3 percent increase in August and no change in July.

The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index increased 0.6 percent in September to 119.3 (2004 = 100), following a 0.3 percent increase in August and a 0.1 percent decline in July.