Leading Economic Indicators Rise for Seventh Month

An index of leading economic indicators rose in January for the seventh straight monthly increase, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

The 0.1% increase for followed December’s revised 0.8% gain, but was short of economists’ forecasts of a 0.2% rise, Bloomberg reported.

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