September US Leading Index Flat After August Decline

10:11 AM EDT, 10/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The Conference Board's measure of leading indicators held steady in September compared with the expectations for a 0.1% decrease in a survey compiled by Bloomberg following a 0.1% decrease in August. There were positive contributions from five of the 10 components, led by interest rate spread, average weekly hours for manufacturing and the leading credit index which were offset by a large decline in consumer expectations for business conditions. "The LEI's six-month growth rate increased slightly, which suggests the economy is still growing and will continue to grow, but is becoming less dependent on consumer spending and more dependent on business investment," said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, senior manager for business cycle indicators. "The Conference Board now expects real GDP to grow by a 2.2% annualized rate in 2026, with our outlook for 2027 at 2.0%, higher than previously forecasted."