Leading Economic Indicators Jump 0.5%

“A gauge of future U.S. economic activity rose in December, pointing to an improvement in growth despite an ongoing political fight in Washington over fiscal policy.

The private Conference Board said on Thursday its Leading Economic Index gained 0.5 percent to 93.9 last month, afterbeing unchanged in November.

A drop in new claims for jobless benefits helped drive the gain, as did an increase in new building permits.

“A pickup in domestic growth is now more likely,” said Ken Goldstein, an economist at the Conference Board….’

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