What is Leading Economic Index? (LEI)

The Leading Economic Index (LEI) provides an early indication of significant turning points in the business cycle and where the economy is heading in the near term. The Coincident Economic Index (CEI) provides an indication of the current state of the economy.

United States Leading Index

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index is a predictive variable that anticipates (or “leads”) turning points in the business cycle by around 7 months. The ten components of The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® for the U.S. include:

1. Average weekly hours in manufacturing;
2. Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance;
3. Manufacturers’ new orders for consumer goods and materials;
4. ISM® Index of New Orders;
5. Manufacturers’ new orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft orders;
6. Building permits for new private housing units;
7. S&P 500® Index of Stock Prices;
8. Leading Credit Index™;
9. Interest rate spread (10-year Treasury bonds less federal funds rate);
10. Average consumer expectations for business conditions.

United States Leading Index

Leading Economic Index the United States increased to 101.60 in December of 2024 over the same month in the previous year. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Coincident Index - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.