US leading index fell 0.1 percent in August as its six-month growth turned negative
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The US Leading Economic Index fell 0.1 percent in August to 99.5, the Conference Board reported. It had risen 0.2 percent in July.
The index turned down again. Consumer expectations, building permits and jobless claims outweighed positive contributions from financial components. Four of the ten components fell.
Growth over the six months through August was negative 0.1 percent, compared with a negative 0.6 percent rate over the preceding six months. The board said its recession signal was not triggered because the diffusion index remained above 50. Its Coincident Economic Index, a measure of current activity, rose 0.1 percent to 114.9.
