Leading Index Rises More Than Forecast Signaling U.S. Pickup

The index of U.S. leading indicators rose more than forecast in February, a sign the world’s largest economy will strengthen after a weather-induced slowdown in the first quarter.

The Conference Board’s gauge of the outlook for the next three to six months climbed 0.5 percent, the biggest gain since November, after a revised 0.1 percent gain the prior month, the New York-based group said today. The median forecast of 49 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 0.2 percent gain.