Leading Economic Indicators Up for 8th Straight Month

For the eighth straight month a forecast of national economic activity rose in November, a sign the U.S. economy will continue to rebound in 2010, according to a private research group.

The index of leading economic indicators increased 0.9 percent last month, up from 0.3 percent in October, the Conference Board said Thursday. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had expected it to rise 0.7 percent.

The board analyzes 10 economic indicators every month and six of them saw an increase in November.

The most signficant data, according to Conference Board Economist Ken Goldstein, was the fact that the employment level remained static, making it the first month in nearly two years that it didn't drop.

Goldstein said the latest report signals that the economy will slowly improve through 2010, Reuters reported.