News release: “The Conference Board Leading Economic IndexTM (LEI) for the U.K. increased by 0.4 percent in December to 99.0 (2004 = 100), following gains of 0.9 percent in November and 1.1 percent in October. Six of the seven components made positive contributions to the index. Said Jean-Claude Manini, The Conference Board Senior Economist for Europe: “December’s moderation in the growth rate of the LEI for the United Kingdom, triggered by the leveling-off of confidence based indicators, supports the case for a weak recovery. The U.K. economy is unlikely to outperform the Euro Area economy in the near term, although the recovery signal has been moderating there as well.”