The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index (LEI) jumped 1.6% month-over-month in April (stronger than the 1.2% consensus forecast), following a 1.3% increase in March. On a year-over-year basis, the LEI was up 17.0% in April against a severe decline in the index in April last year. The LEI has now fully recovered and surpassed its previous prepandemic peak in January 2020. According to the Conference Board, the index suggests that economic growth may accelerate in the near term.