Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Economic Watch: Leading Economic Index Points to Slow Growth

A measure of the health of the nation’s economy and where it's headed moved slightly higher, but one analyst says the rate of growth remains unimpressive.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
September 18, 2015
Economic Watch: Leading Economic Index Points to Slow Growth

 

2 min to read


A measure of the health of the nation’s economy and where it's headed moved slightly higher, but one analyst says the rate of growth remains unimpressive.

The Conference Board said on Friday its Leading Economic Index increased 0.1% to 123.7, following no change in July, and a 0.6% increase in June.

Ad Loading...

“The U.S. LEI suggests economic growth will remain moderate into the new year, with little reason to expect growth to pick up substantially,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, director of business cycles and growth research at the private research group. “Average working hours and new orders in manufacturing have been weak, pointing to more slow growth in the industrial sector. However, employment, personal income and manufacturing and trade sales have all been rising, helping to offset the weakness in industrial production in recent months.”

The index is used to gauge where the economy is headed in the next three to six months. It is made up of 10 components, including stock prices, manufacturing levels and home construction.

The group’s Coincident Economic Index, which measures current economic activity, increased 0.1% in August following a 0.4% gain in July and a 0.1% improvement in June.

Ad Loading...

The Lagging Economic Index, which measures U.S. economic activity of previous months, increased 0.2% in August, following a 0.3 percent hike in July, and a 0.9% jump in June.

The report comes as one analyst describes U.S. economic growth as remaining unimpressive.

“Given the pedestrian rate of economic growth, recent bloating of inventories, the strong U.S. dollar, and the plunge in energy prices, freight volume growth has slowed significantly in 2015,” said John Larkin, Stifel Transportation and Logistics Research Group’s managing director, following FTR’s annual Transportation Conference this week in Indianapolis. “In addition, fewer supply chain disruptions combined with reduced demand have created a more fluid logistics network in 2015, when compared to 2014.”

However, he said domestic intermodal volumes should continue to grow, partially offset by some international share shift from the West Coast to the East Coast.

“Evidence suggests that shippers have pulled market share to the East Coast and there is limited evidence of much of that share reverting back. Truckers, 3PLs and railroads can collaborate to move more domestic freight, in the long-haul, high-density lanes, via rail-based intermodal.”

More Fleet Management

Geotab screen on AI concept background
Fleet ManagementJune 17, 2026

What Geotab's New AI Connector Means for Fleets

Fleets can now ask their usual AI assistants questions about maintenance, safety, fuel use, and vehicle performance, using their live Geotab data, and take action on the answers without leaving their preferred AI tool.

Read More →
Image of computer screen with BidBoardX interface

New C.H. Robinson Tool Opens Door to More Predictable Freight

BidBoardX lets carriers search, bid on, and secure committed freight opportunities through a single digital marketplace.

Read More →
Amazon electric cargo bike on New York City street
Fleet ManagementJune 15, 2026

New York City's Microhub Project is Delivering Results

Trucking, last-mile delivery companies, and environmental advocates like what they are seeing so far with New York's microhub program.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of hourglass and trucks backed up to a dock
DriversJune 15, 2026

Why Truck Detention Keeps Costing Fleets Time and Money

A 2024 ATRI study found detention affects nearly 40% of truckload stops and costs the industry more than $15 billion annually. Despite the toll on drivers, fleets, and supply chains, the problem remains stubbornly persistent.

Read More →
Panel discussion
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJune 12, 2026

Time is Running Out to Apply for Exclusive HDT Event

Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange brings fleet managers and suppliers together for the deeper conversations that lead to ideas, partnerships, and solutions. Time is running out to apply for the September event.

Read More →
Empty trailer with worker loading a pallet of cargo
Fleet ManagementJune 10, 2026

Amazon Launches Less-Than-Truckload Freight Offering for All Businesses   

This launch is the latest addition to Amazon Supply Chain Services, a portfolio of supply chain capabilities from Amazon, including freight, distribution, fulfillment, and parcel shipping.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Stacks of intermodal containers at port with truck driving between them

Import Cargo Volume to See Year-Over-Year Gain Again in June, Then Remain Below 2025 Levels Into Fall

After July, the report predicts a weakening in import volume as consumer uncertainty remains high and the impact of increasing inflation takes its toll.

Read More →
Equity Interest Auction
SponsoredJune 8, 2026

AUCTION OF EQUITY INTEREST IN HEAVY HAUL TRUCKING COMPANY!!

Mark your calendar: June 30, 2026 (10:00 a.m. PDT). A 37.5% ownership interest in MagnaTrans, LLC, a California limited liability company doing business as Magna Transportation Group, will be sold in an in-person and online auction to the highest bidder or bidders under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The Rancho Cucamonga-based heavy haul and over-dimensional trucking company operates across California, Oregon, and Arizona.

Read More →
Volvo OTA updates.

Volvo Trucks Adds Unattended Over-the-Air Software Update Capabilities

The latest evolution of Volvo’s over-the-air update technology allows software updates to run while trucks are parked, helping fleets keep vehicles current without disrupting operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Podcast thumbnail illustration
Fleet ManagementJune 4, 2026

How Waste Connections is Using Data, Telematics, and AI

How do you manage and maintain more than 18,000 connected trucks? Data. Lots of it.

Read More →