The Experimental Index of Coincident Indicators (XCI) rose to 241.6 in February from 241.4 in January and 239.6 in December, based on the most recently available data. Over the three months from November to February, the XCI grew 5.5% at an annual rate, while during the three months from August to November, the XCI grew 3.4% at an annual rate. Over the six months from August to February, the XCI grew 4.4% at an annual rate.
The Experimental Leading Index (XLI) for February is 4.2. This index, based on seven leading indicators, is a forecast of the percentage growth of the XCI (at an annual rate) over the next six months, from February to August. Because XCI growth has averaged approximately 3% annually since 1960, the February XLI forecasts continued growth well above its historical average rate.
Of the indicators used to calculate the XLI, two made a positive contribution to the index, relative to trend: housing authorizations (building permits); and manufacturers' unfilled orders. Four of the indicators made negative contributions to the index, relative to trend: exchange rates; the yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds; the premium on 3-month commercial paper over 3-month U.S. Treasury bills; and the spread between the yield on 10-year vs. 1-year U.S. Treasury bonds. Part-time employment due to slack work made no net contribution, relative to trend.
Based on the most recent data, the Experimental Recession Index (XRI), which estimates the probability that the economy will be in a recession six months later, was 2% in February, indicating a 2% probability that the economy will be in a recession in August.
The alternative experimental recession index (the XRI-2), which is based on seven leading indicators that do not include interest rates or interest rate spreads, estimates a 7% probability that the economy will be in a recession in August, slightly higher than the XRI.
Figure 4 shows the probability that the economy will be in a recession during each of the months from February to August, computed using data through February. Based on the data through February for the variables in the XRI, the probability that the economy was in a recession in February is 1%, the probability of being in a recession in March is 1%, and the probability of being in a recession in August is 2%. Based on the variables in the XRI-2, the probability that the economy was in a recession in February is 1%, the probability of being in a recession in March is 1%, and the probability of being in a recession in August is 7%.
For further information contact:
James Stock phone: (617) 496-0502 email: james_stock@harvard.edu
Mark Watson phone: (609) 258-4811 email: mwatson@princeton.edu
| Experimental Leading Index (XLI) | 4.2 |
| Experimental Recession Index (XRI) | 2 % |
| Experimental Coincident Index (XCI) | 241.6 |
| Nonfinancial Experimental Recession Index (XRI-2) | 7 % |
| Series | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Housing starts (building permits) | 0.5 |
| Manufacturers' unfilled orders (durable goods industries) | 0.5 |
| Trade-weighted exchange rate | -0.1 |
| Part time work | 0.0 |
| Interest rate on 10 year U.S. Treasury bonds | -0.1 |
| Interest spread: 3 month commercial paper minus 3 month T-bills | -0.1 |
| Interest spread: 10-year minus 1-year Treasury bonds | -0.4 |
| Trend | 3.9 |
| 00:01 | 99:12 | 99:11 | 99:10 | 99:09 | 99:08 | 99:07 | 99:06 | 99:05 | 99:04 | 99:03 | 99:02 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLI | 5.4 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 3.4 |
| XRI | 2 % | 3 % | 6 % | 8 % | 13 % | 5 % | 4 % | 4 % | 3 % | 3 % | 6 % | 4 % |
| XCI | 241.4 | 239.6 | 238.4 | 237.5 | 236.1 | 236.4 | 235.8 | 235.1 | 233.7 | 232.9 | 232.7 | 232.0 |
| XRI-2 | 4 % | 6 % | 6 % | 6 % | 7 % | 6 % | 7 % | 7 % | 10 % | 12 % | 7 % | 4 % |
| Components of the Experimental Leading Index | ||||||||||||
| Housing BP | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | -0.3 | -0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | -0.9 | -1.1 | -0.2 | 0.7 |
| MD Unf Ord | 0.6 | 0.5 | -0.1 | -0.3 | 0.0 | -0.0 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.0 | -0.1 | -0.3 | -0.0 |
| Exchange Rates | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | -0.2 | -0.2 | -0.1 | -0.3 | -0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Part Time Wk. | -0.4 | -0.4 | -0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | -0.2 | -0.2 | -0.3 | 0.1 | -0.2 | -1.1 | -0.8 |
| 10yr TBond Rate | -0.3 | -0.2 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.0 | -0.1 | -0.2 | -0.3 | -0.3 | -0.3 | -0.3 | -0.2 |
| 3mtCP,3mtTB Spr | -0.2 | -0.7 | -1.1 | -1.2 | -1.4 | -0.5 | -0.3 | -0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | -0.3 | -0.5 |
| 10yrTB,1yrTB Spr | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.2 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | -0.0 | -0.0 | -0.1 |
| Trend | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
