ECRI Leading Index: First Pos. Growth in 22 Months
Submitted by CARPE DIEM
NEW YORK, June 26 (Reuters) - A gauge of future U.S.economic growth rose, and its yearly growth rate turned positive, raising hopes that the end of the recession is insight, a research group said today. The Economic Cycle Research Institute, a New York-based independent forecasting group, said its Weekly Leading Index (WLI) rose to a 37-week high of 117.6 for the week ending June 19, from a downwardly revised 117.0 the previous week.
The index’s annualized growth rate spiked to a 97-week high of 2.1% from minus 0.6% a week ago. It was ECRI’s highest yearly growth reading since the week ended August 10, 2007, when it stood at 3.4% (see chart above).
“Following a 28-week upturn, WLI growth has broken into positive territory for the first time in over 22 months — an affirmation that an end to the recession is at hand,” said Lakshman Achuthan, managing director at ECRI.
