July 21, 2006	Friday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 24, 1427

WASHINGTON, July 20: The forward-looking index of leading US economic indicators rose 0.1pc in June, following two straight declines, the Conference Board said on Thursday.

But the increase was a shade weaker than analyst expectations of a 0.2pc gain, and the business research group said the signs still pointed to a moderation in economic growth.

The leading index, used to indicate US economic trends six months in advance, declined 0.6pc in May after a 0.1pc drop in April.

“The US economy is cooling at mid-year,” Conference Board labour economist Ken Goldstein said in a statement.

“This basic trend has been intensified by higher energy prices and a cooling-off in the housing market. “The (leading indicators) suggest that the economy could cool even more in the third and fourth quarters of the year,” Goldstein said.

Other measures in the survey were higher. The coincident index of current conditions rose 0.2pc, while the lagging index of past conditions rose 0.6pc.—AFP