The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Australia decreased 0.2 percent in October to 127.0 (2004 = 100), following a 0.6 percent decrease in September, and a 0.3 percent decrease in August.
At the same time, The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for Australia, a measure of current economic activity, increased 0.2 percent in October to 125.8 (2004 = 100), following a 0.2 percent increase in September, and a 0.2 percent increase in August.
The Conference Board LEI for Australia decreased in October for the third consecutive month and its six-month growth rate remains in negative territory. Meanwhile, the CEI for Australia continues to post moderate gains, but its six-month growth rate has slowed compared to the first half of the year. Taken together, the recent behavior of the composite indexes suggests that economic expansion should continue in the near term, but the pace is unlikely to pick up in early 2015.