The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Korea increased 0.8 percent in April to 123.6 (2004 = 100), following a 0.9 percent increase in March, and a 0.2 percent increase in February.
At the same time, The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for Korea, a measure of current economic activity, declined 0.1 percent in April to 118.4 (2004 = 100), following a 0.8 percent decline in March, and a 1.1 percent increase in February.
The LEI for Korea has increased in the last three months, and has been on a moderate upward trend since August of last year. Despite recent improvements, its six-month change has weakened in recent months, but remains in positive territory. Meanwhile, The CEI for Korea declined in April, and its six-month growth rate, though slightly higher than in the previous six months, has also recently moderated somewhat. The slower growth in both the LEI and CEI suggests that the rate of expansion in economic activity is unlikely to gain momentum in the near term.
