The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Japan increased 0.6 percent in November to 103.3 (2010 = 100), following a 0.1 percent increase in October, and a 0.8 percent increase in September.
At the same time, The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for Japan, a measure of current economic activity, decreased 0.1 percent in November to 97.7 (2010 = 100), following no change in October, and a 0.5 percent increase in September.
The most recent improvement in The Conference Board LEI was largely the result of monetary policies and improved stock prices, although business failures (inverted) and the yield spread were also strong positive contributors to the LEI in the second half of 2014. Meanwhile, the Conference Board CEI for Japan continues on a downward trend, but the rate of decline has eased compared to first half of 2014. The moderately improved performance of the leading economic index suggests that the current contraction in economic activity is likely to continue subsiding, with some possible upside potential during the early months of 2015.
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