Leading Economic Indicators Rise 1%

An index of leading economic indicators rose 1% last month, the biggest gain in three-and-a-half years, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

The jump, the biggest since November 2005, followed a 0.2% downturn in March, the group said. Seven of the LEI’s 10 indicators showed gains.

Economists had forecast a 0.8% decline, Bloomberg reported.

The LEI is closely watched by trucking companies because it forecasts business activity for the next three to six months.