Its leading economic index for the United Kingdom fell 0.4% in November 2004 to stand at 133.1 (1990=100), says the Conference Board, a New York-based business research group. The growth rate for the leading index has slowed to annual rate of 0% to 1%, dramatically below the 6% to 7% rate of early 2004.
"The current behavior of the leading index suggests that the [UK] economy should continue growing in the near term at about the same sluggish pace as in the third quarter," says the Conference Board.
