The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. Increased 0.3 Percent

Let's not make big news out of this because it might raise some people's spirits and hopes. Can't have any of that.

Here are the components of the latest index:

Four of the ten indicators that make up the leading economic index increased in December. The positive contributors – beginning with the largest positive contributor – were real money supply, interest rate spread, manufacturers’ new orders for consumer goods and materials and manufacturers’ new orders for nondefense capital goods.

The negative contributors – beginning with the largest negative contributor – were building permits, average weekly manufacturing hours, index of supplier deliveries (vendor performance), average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance (inverted), and stock prices. The index of consumer expectations held steady in December.