The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the Euro Area increased by 0.2 percent in October to 106.0 (2004 = 100), following a 1.1 percent decrease in September and a 1.3 percent decrease in August.  

Said Jean-Claude Manini, The Conference Board Senior Economist for Europe: “The modest increase of the LEI for the Euro Area was not enough to pull it out of recession territory, though it does suggest that the possible contraction in economic activity may be short and shallow. However, weak confidence and nervous financial markets can still drag the economy into a deeper contraction if policy responses are not appropriate and adequate. Sustained declines in the LEIs for France, Germany, and Spain are reinforcing the signal from the Euro Area LEI.”

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the Euro Area, which measures current economic activity, increased 0.1 percent in October. The index stands at 103.4 (2004 = 100) according to preliminary estimates*. The CEI decreased 0.3 percent in September and increased 0.2 percent in August.