An important gauge of future economic activity rose a sluggish 0.1 percent in July, suggesting that higher oil prices and rising interest rates are slowing the nation’s economic growth prospects.
The New York-based Conference Board said Thursday that its Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators registered 138.3 in July following a revised increase of 1.2 percent to 138.1 in June. The index, which was unchanged in May, is designed to predict economic activity over the next three to six months.
