A private forecast of economic activity rose for the sixth straight month in September, a sign the economy will keep growing next year.
The Conference Board’s index of leading economic indicators rose 1 percent last month after a 0.4 percent gain in August. Wall Street economists expected an increase of 0.8 percent last month, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.
Economists expect the economy grew about 3 percent in the third quarter after falling for a record four straight quarters. But many wonder if that pace can continue in the current quarter and next year as unemployment rises and consumers remain hesitant to spend.
The Conference Board index’s six-month growth rate through September was the strongest since 1983, but joblessness was weighing on the recovery. (AP)
