The leading economic index, also known as the LEI, is a gauge of 10 indicators designed to show whether the economy is getting better... The numbers: The leading economic index, also known as the LEI, is a gauge of 10 indicators designed to show whether the economy is getting better or worse. The report is published by the nonprofit Conference Board.
Big picture: The economy has slowed due to the end of pandemic stimulus and the effects of high inflation, which has forced the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.Although the leading index has been signaling a recession for months, the economy is still expanding. A big question is whether the latest banking crisis ends up becoming a tipping point. So far, regulators appear to have contained the damage.A measure of current economic conditions, meanwhile, rose a scant 0.1% in February.
“The most recent financial turmoil in the U.S. banking sector is not reflected in the LEI data but could have a negative impact on the outlook if it persists,” she said. Market reaction: The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA and S&P 500 SPX fell in Friday trading amid nagging worries about the U.S. financial system after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank.
Our clients ask: Has the bull market started? Of course it has. A bull market, a bull FRS rate, and a bull inflation. Then the bears will come and break the bulls' horns.