The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the US inched down by 0.1% in July 2025 to 98.7 (2016=100), after declining by 0.3% in June. The LEI fell by 2.7% over the six months between January and July 2025, a faster rate of decline than its –1.0% contraction over the previous six-month period (July 2024 to January 2025). "The leading economic index for the US decreased just slightly in July," said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, Senior Manager, Business Cycle Indicators, at The Conference Board. "Pessimistic consumer expectations for business conditions and weak new orders continued to weigh down the index. ... (full story)