US leading indicators show 0.3 percent decline: Conference Board

[papau]

The 6 negative indicators:retail performance, consumer expectations, stock prices, interest rate spread, manufacturers' new orders for consumer goods and materials. So down in January following two straight months of improvement, which followed down for five straight months.


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050217/ts_alt_afp/useconomyindex_050217153121

US leading indicators show 0.3 percent decline: Conference Board

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A forward-looking gauge of the US economy dipped in January, reflecting high energy prices, a weak dollar and business caution, the Conference Board reported.

The board's index of leading economic indicators fell 0.3 percent in January following a 0.3 percent rise in December and an identical increase in November.

"The picture at the start of 2005 is positive, but more spotty than robust," said Ken Goldstein, economist at the business research institute.

"The spike in energy prices and the lower dollar took some steam out of the economy. But the larger concern remains cautious attitudes. Business concerns about the direction of cash flow could lead to cautious decisions about hiring and rebuilding inventory." <snip>

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[whistle]

2. That seems to fit right in with the "measured rates of increases"

...the the Federal Reserve Bank and Alan Greenspan keep pushing for interest rate hikes.

[Yavin4]

3. When People Don't Have Jobs, They Can't Spend Money

You can't spend what you don't have.