The Conference Board Leading Economic Index™ (LEI) for the Euro Area increased 1.5 percent in June to 95.9 (2004 = 100), following a 1.7 percent increase in May and a 1.6 percent increase in April. Seven of the eight components contributed positively to the index this month.

Said Jean-Claude Manini, The Conference Board Senior Economist for Europe: "The leading economic index for the Euro Area has grown rapidly in recent months amidst widespread strength among its components, just like the LEIs for Germany and France. Should these trends continue, a recovery in economic activity - albeit a slow one - may begin before the year ends."

The Conference Board LEI for the Euro Area has increased by 4.5 percent during the first half of 2009 after falling more than 15.0 percent between June 2007 and December 2008. Meanwhile, The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index™ (CEI) for the Euro Area, a measure of current economic activity, declined by 0.2 percent in June, falling to 101.3 (2004 = 100), according to preliminary estimates, after falling 0.3 percent in both May and April. The Conference Board CEI for the Euro Area has been trending downward since February 2008.

The eight components of The Conference Board Leading Economic Index™ for the Euro Area include:

- Economic Sentiment Index (source: European Commission DG-ECFIN)

- Index of Residential Building Permits Granted (source: Eurostat)

- Index of Capital Goods New Orders (source: Eurostat)

- Dow Jones EURO STOXX® Index (source: STOXX Limited)

- Money Supply (M2) (source: European Central Bank)

- Interest Rate Spread (source: ECB)

- Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (source: Markit Economics)

- Eurozone Service Sector Future Business Activity Expectations Index (source: Markit Economics)