The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for China increased 0.7 percent in August to 299.8 (2004 = 100), following a 1.2 percent increase in July and a 1.3 percent increase in June. Three of the six components contributed positively to the index in August.
"The monthly growth in the LEI for China slowed markedly in August as real estate activity weakened and consumer expectations fell again," said Andrew Polk, resident economist at The Conference Board China Center in Beijing. "Meanwhile, growth in current economic conditions, as measured by the coincident economic index, was unchanged as a contraction in production output offset growing retail sales. Targeted policy measures may provide some support in Q4, but the LEI does not point to a sustained pick up in the economy any time soon."
The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for China, which measures current economic activity, was unchanged in August at 264.6 (2004 = 100), following 1.0 percent increases in both July and June. Two of the five components contributed positively to the index in August.
