Dueling Composite Indicators

Executive Summary: The Conference Board’s trio of economic indicators flashed conflicting messages in their recently reported July readings. The leading indicator says a recession is overdue. The coincident indicator keeps scaling new heights. The lagging indicator has been peaking, as it does after recessions are almost over! Today, we explore explanations in the specific components that each index measures. … Also: The CPI services inflation rate significantly lags the CPI goods inflation rate. Services’ inclusion of rent is much of the reason. … And: Q2 earnings reporting season is nearly over. Joe analyzes the near-final data on Q2 earnings growth and the encouraging estimate revisions trend.