By Allison Prang 
 

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index grew last month, helped the most by an increase in new orders and positive contributions by seven of the index's 10 components.

The index rose to 111.2, up 0.4%. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal were expecting an increase of 0.5%. The index rose 0.7% in July and 0.5% in June.

The Conference Board's Director of Business Cycles and Growth Research, Ataman Ozyildirim, said in prepared remarks that since 2018 started, the index's growth has slowed.

"Industrial companies that are more sensitive to the business cycle should be on the lookout for a possible moderation in economic growth in 2019," he said.

Ten different factors go into the index, such as the ISM Index of New Orders, average consumer expectations for business conditions and average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance.

The Conference Board said its Lagging Economic Index was 105.4, up 0.2%. Its Coincident Economic Index was 104.3, also up 0.2%.

Write to Allison Prang at allison.prang@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 20, 2018 10:39 ET (14:39 GMT)

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