(CEP News) - The index of U.S. leading indicators fell more than expected in March, posting a 0.3% month-over-month decline, according to the Conference Board.

The consensus had forecast a 0.2% decline. February’s increase was revised up to -0.2% from -0.4%.

Over the last six months, leading indicators have fallen 4.9%.

The leading index saw positive contributions from M2 money supply (+0.34%), the interest rate spread (+0.26%), and consumer expectations (+0.08%).

The average workweek contributed -0.13%, while the pace of deliveries fell 0.21%. Building permits were down 0.26% and jobless claims dropped 0.10%. Stock prices fell 0.24%.

The coincident index, which measures what is currently happening in the economy, fell 0.4% in March after posting a 0.6% loss in the prior month. Over the past six months, the coincident index has fallen 5.8%.

The lagging index, which looks backwards at where the economy has been, fell 0.4% in March following the prior month’s 0.3% decline.

By Megan Ainscow, mainscow@economicnews.ca, edited by Sarah Sussman, ssussman@economicnews.ca

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Posted in Categories: Canada, Economy, Releases, USA.

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