Leading Indicators: Five's The Charm?

Jan. 13, 2005
By John S. McClenahen Lots of manufacturing executives and business economists can be excused for being encouraged by July's fourth consecutive monthly advance in the Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators. But David A. Rosenberg, ...
ByJohn S. McClenahen Lots of manufacturing executives and business economists can be excused for being encouraged by July's fourth consecutive monthly advance in the Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators. But David A. Rosenberg, chief North American economist at Merrill Lynch & Co., New York, cautions executives, economists and all others against getting too excited. Indeed, he contends that five months in a row of the leading indicators "would be more impressive" since that's not happened since late-1998 and early-1999. In contrast, he notes that during the past three economically below-par years, the index of leading indicators has risen for four consecutive months three times. "The number for August will be the key as to whether or not it's time to uncork the champagne and begin to raise the 2004 forecast," says Rosenberg. The Conference Board is slated to release that number on Sept. 18.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Food and Beverage 2024 Trends and Outlook for North America

Oct. 29, 2023
Ready to hear what 200 of your peers said are the top challenges and opportunities in 2024? Don’t fall behind. Uncover actionable insights to better prepare for 2024 in this whitepaper...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

The Realist Guide to Sustainable Supply Chains

Sept. 28, 2023
A ‘roll up your sleeves’ guide to driving green line performance at your organization. Learn with this easy-to-understand ebook how to implement green supply chain management ...

Discrete and Process Manufacturing 2024 Trends and Outlook for North America

Oct. 29, 2023
Manufacturers are reaping the benefits of automation and cloud-based solutions. Discover what is driving today's industry trends and how they can shape your growth priorities ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!