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Indicators point to strengthening economy, but gas, food prices may cause drag

NEW YORK — A private research group said U.S. economic growth should strengthen by summer, but cautioned that consumer concerns over rising gas and food prices could drag on the expansion.

The Conference Board said Thursday that its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.4 percent in March. The index, which is a measure of future economic activity, has increased for nine straight months.

Growing demand for U.S. manufactured goods and a rebound in requests for building permits helped drive last month's gains. Six of the index's 10 components rose. The index rose 1.0 percent in February, revised higher from the initial estimate of 0.8 percent.

The leading indicators began moving sharply higher last fall, coinciding with a decline in the unemployment rate and a stock market rally.

Still, the trade group said many people are increasingly worried about inflation. It noted that a measure of consumer confidence fell in March to a two-year low.

Consumers are spending more, but the rise in costs for basic necessities could force them to spend less on discretionary goods. That could slow economic growth. Consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of economic activity.

Gasoline jumped 5.6 percent last month and has risen nearly 28 percent in the past year, the government reported last week. Consumers paid an average price of $3.84 a gallon nationwide on Thursday, according to the travel group AAA. That's up $0.30 from March and nearly $1 from a year ago

The government also said that retail food prices rose 0.8 percent in March, the largest increase in almost three years. Consumers paid more for fruits and vegetables, dairy products, chicken and beef.

The Conference Board, a private research group based in New York, compiles data that has mostly already been released about real estate, manufacturing, employment, consumer confidence and financial markets. It uses that data to calculate the leading indicator index. The Conference Board also includes its own estimates about manufacturers' new orders and the country's money supply.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at [email protected] .

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