The Conference Board reported the U.S. leading index of economic indicators rose 0.3% in September to 137.9. Based on revised data, the index fell 0.8% in August and rose 0.7% in July.

Seven of the 10 indicators increased in September. They were vendor performance, average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance (inverted), stock prices, manufacturers' new orders for nondefense capital goods, real money supply, manufacturers' new orders for consumer goods and materials, and index of consumer expectations. The negative contributors were building permits and interest rate spread. Average weekly manufacturing hours held steady in September.