Leading Economic Indicators Rise Despite Weakness In Stocks, Building Permits

Weakness in the stock market and building permits are trouble spots but they couldn't hold down the index of leading economic indicators which rose 0.6 percent in February on top of a revised 0.8 percent jump in January. The report says the LEI's trend is the best in 7 years and points to "robust" economic growth throughout 2018.

Strength in February was led by the factory workweek with unemployment claims and ISM new orders close behind. Interest rates and consumer expectations were also positives.