Economic indicators gain 0.4% in month

8/18/2012

WASHINGTON -- The Conference Board said Friday that its index of leading economic indicators, a measure of future U.S. economic activity, increased 0.4 percent in July after falling 0.4 percent in June.

The gain was propelled by improvements in a number of components, the largest being a big jump in applications for housing permits and a decline in unemployment-benefits applications.

The rebound put the index at 95.8, matching its May level, which had been the highest reading in four years.