Como se combate o populismo? "Com eleições", responde Fukuyama

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10:00am 04/21/05 U.S. MARCH LAGGING INDICATORS FALL 0.1%
10:00am 04/21/05 U.S. MARCH COINCIDENT INDICATORS RISE 0.2%
10:00am 04/21/05 2 OF 10 U.S. MARCH LEADING INDICATORS ADVANCE
10:00am 04/21/05 U.S. MARCH LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS FALL 0.4%

ECONOMIC REPORT: Leading indicators show 'choppy' growth
By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch
Last Update: 10:22 AM ET April 21, 2005

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. economy is experiencing "choppy" grow
The board's index of leading economic indicators fell 0.4% in March after growing in three of the previous four months. The index rose 0.1% in February.

Two of the 10 leading indicators advanced in March: the interest rate spread and orders for consumer goods.

Economists were expecting the index to fall 0.3%, according to a survey conducted by MarketWatch.

"Moderate economic growth continued through the first quarter," said Ken Goldstein, economist for the board. "The economy is expanding, but at a pace that is choppy."

The index is designed to forecast economic activity six to nine months ahead. Over the past six months, the leading index is down 0.3%, with 55% of the indicators up over that time.

The coincident index increased 0.2% in March and the lagging index fell 0.1%.

In a separate report, the Labor Department said initial jobless claims plunged by 36,000 to 296,000 last week, matching the low for the business cycle. However, the government cautioned that seasonal factors were likely distorting the extent of the decline.

Jobless claims are one of the 10 leading indicators; they were the largest negative contributor to March's index.

Other negative contributors were: building permits, vendor performance, the factory workweek, money supply, consumer expectations, stock prices and core capital goods orders.