USA: leading indicators continue to decline

(CercleFinance.com) - The index of leading indicators, which is supposed to forecast the evolution of the US economy in the coming months, fell for the sixth consecutive month in August, the Conference Board announced on Thursday, taking this as a sign of a slowdown in activity.


The precursor index fell by 0.2% last month, to 100.2, following a 0.6% decline in July, according to a confirmed figure.

The sluggishness of new orders, at their lowest level since 2023, consumer pessimism and the fall of Wall Street at the beginning of August penalized the indicator in particular, explains ConfBoard.

The trade organization thus expects the US economy to lose some of its favorable momentum in the second half of the year, even if the 50 basis point rate cut decided yesterday by the Fed could support activity at the end of the year and in 2025, it points out.

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