Leading Economic Index for MAY 2026

The Conference Board® released its Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for May, 2026:

==============

Index for May, 2026: 99.3 (The baseline 100 score is associated with 2016 data.)

==============

• Actual: +0.1% (+0.1 point Month-on-Month)
  
  
• Change from 12 Months Ago: -0.2% (-0.2 point)

============== 

• LEI for April, 2026: 99.2
  
  
• LEI for March, 2026: 99.0
  
  
• LEI for February, 2026: 99.6
  
  
• LEI for January, 2026: 99.3
      
• LEI for December, 2025: 99.4   
  
  
• LEI for November, 2025: 99.6  
  
  
• LEI for October, 2025: 98.1
   
• LEI for September, 2025: 98.3 
   
• LEI for August, 2025: 98.5 
  
  
• LEI for July, 2025: 98.8
  
  
• LEI for June, 2025: 98.8
  
  
• LEI for May, 2025: 99.1 
  

==============

The yellow-highlighted percentage is the month-to-month change for the index.  The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The LEI is a composite of 10 of the nation's economic data releases that's put together by The Conference Board. Statistically, the components listed below have shown a significant increase or decrease before national economic upturns or downturns:

1. The Standard + Poor's 500 Index
   
   
2. Average weekly claims for unemployment insurance
   
   
3. Building permits for new private housing
   
   
4. The interest rate spread between the yield on the benchmark 10-Year Treasury Note and Federal Funds
   
   
5. ISM® Index of New Orders
   
   
6. Manufacturer's new orders for consumer goods or materials
   
   
7. Manufacturer's new orders, non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft orders
   
   
8. Average weekly manufacturing hours
   
   
9. Average consumer expectations for business conditions
   
   
10. Leading Credit Index™

==============

CHART: Leading Economic Index
6-Month Growth Rate
with Warning + Recession Signal
MAY 2026 UPDATE

==============

 

From Today's Report:

"...'The Leading Index for the US increased slightly in May, fueled entirely by positive contributions from financial components, especially stock prices and the interest rate spread,' said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, Senior Manager, Business Cycle Indicators, at The Conference Board. 'On the non-financial side of the LEI, only ISM® New Orders Index showed some strength, with consumer expectations remaining a major drag.

Despite two consecutive monthly increases, the LEI’s six- and twelve-month growth rates were still negative, suggesting slower economic expansion ahead.

Consumers are feeling squeezed because everyday costs -- especially gas and energy -- are rising faster than their incomes, leaving many households with less money available for things like travel, restaurants, entertainment, and shopping.

The good news is that businesses are spending heavily on AI, data centers, and new technology, helping to keep the economy growing, while  consumers pull back spending.

The overall job market is expected to stay fairly healthy in 2026, but economic growth will be weaker than in recent years.

The Conference Board is currently projecting 1.8% y/y GDP growth in 2026, down from 2.1% in 2025.'..."

==============
 

• Click Here to view the Conference Board report.
  

==============

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE >  SITEMAP  <