US Leading Economic Index Holds Steady at 99.6 in September
The Conference Board's LEI was flat in September 2026 after a slight August dip, signaling stabilization in the economic outlook.
The Conference Board's Leading Economic Index for the United States was unchanged in September 2026, holding at 99.6 on a 2016 baseline of 100, according to data released Wednesday. The flat reading followed a 0.1% decline in August, suggesting the index has found a near-term floor after a period of softness.
Over the six-month span from March through September 2026, the LEI posted a cumulative gain of 0.6%. That marks a meaningful turnaround from the 1.1% contraction recorded over the comparable prior period, indicating that short-term economic momentum has shifted in a modestly positive direction.
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The LEI is a composite gauge designed to anticipate turning points in the broader business cycle by aggregating forward-looking data across financial markets, manufacturing, and consumer expectations. A flat reading, while not signaling expansion, removes the downside pressure that had characterized earlier months and may reduce near-term recession concerns among forecasters.
Analysts typically view a sustained decline in the LEI as a leading warning of economic contraction, making the index's recent stabilization a closely watched development for policymakers and investors alike. The six-month reversal from negative to positive territory adds weight to the view that the US economy has regained a degree of footing heading into the final quarter of 2026.
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