
Simon Says: What’s leading to the current LEI?
The Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) fell 0.1 percent in February from January. It remains 0.2 percent higher than February 2023. The components that contributed positively to growth were initial claims for unemployment insurance, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and job openings. Residential housing permits and higher inflation negatively impacted the index. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 69 percent in February from January. While claims normally fall in February, this percentage decline is the largest post-Covid. This bodes well for continuing low unemployment in the area. The Dow Jones








