The Conference Board Leading Economic Index(LEI) for the U.K. increased 0.3 percent in July, after remaining unchanged in June and increasing 0.6 percent in May. Five of the seven components made positive contributions to the index in July. The index stands at 104.4 (2004=100).

SaidJean-Claude Manini, The Conference Board Senior Economist forEurope: "The LEI for theUnited Kingdomremained on its rising trend in July, signalling positive but subdued economic growth in the near term. However, current economic conditions remain weak. The new bout of financial market volatility and the recent decline in consumer confidence suggest a further worsening of the balance of risks to the outlook. As there is little prospect for additional economic policies to support economic activity in the short term, weak and volatile growth should prevail in the foreseeable future."

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index(CEI) for the U.K., a measure of current economic activity, remained unchanged in July, after increasing 0.1 percent in June and declining 0.1 percent in May. The index stands at 102.6 (2004 = 100).