Leading Economic Indicators Improve

An index of leading economic indicators improved for a ninth straight month in December, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

The LEI rose 1.1%, the most in three months, following a revised 1% gain in November, the group said.

The index was projected to rise 0.7%, Bloomberg reported.

The LEI is closely watched by trucking companies because it forecasts business activity for the next three to six months.