Leading Economic Index® for the U.S. Rose Sharply in August

The Conference Board, a non-partisan, not-for-profit think tank founded in 1916, released today (9-23-21) the Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. in August. According to the report, the LEI for the U.S. increased by 0.9% in August to 117.1 (2016 = 100), following a 0.8% increase in July and a 0.6% increase in June. The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for the U.S. increased by 0.2% in August to 105.9 (2016 = 100), following a 0.6% increase in July and a 0.5% increase in June. The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index® (LAG) for the U.S. increased by 0.1% in August to 106.3 (2016 = 100), following a 0.5% increase in July and a -0.1% decrease in June.

In a statement prepared for the release of the August LEI, Ataman Ozyildirim, Senior Director of Economic Research at The Conference Board, said, “The U.S. LEI rose sharply in August and remains on a rapidly rising trajectory. While the Delta variant — alongside rising inflation fears — could create headwinds for labor markets and the consumer spending outlook in the near term, the trend in the LEI is consistent with robust economic growth in the reminder of the year. Real GDP growth for 2021 is expected to reach nearly 6.0% year-over-year, before easing to a still-robust 4.0% for 2022.”