Leading Economic Indicators Jump in January

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he index of U.S. leading economic indicators rose for a fourth month in January, as signals pointed to faster economic growth, Bloomberg reported.

The 1.1% increase gain followed a revised 0.3% gain in December that had originally been reported as a 0.1% uptick, the New York-based Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The LEI index, which measures the likely performance of the U.S. economy over the next three to six months, is closely watched by trucking companies because it forecasts business activity for the next three to six months.

Six of 10 segments that make up the LEI rose, the Conference Board said. A decline in jobless claims contributed the most to the increase.