The Conference Board’s U.S. leading economic index rose 0.7 percent in February to a level of 95.5 (2004 = 100). The index rose 0.2 percent in January and 0.5 percent in December.

“Recent data reflect an economy that improved this winter,” said Ken Goldstein, economist at The Conference Board. “To be sure, an unseasonably mild winter has contributed to many of the recent positive economic reports. But the consistent signal for the leading series suggests that progress on jobs, output, and incomes may continue through the summer months, if not beyond.”