Global Leading Indicators

For Release 10:30 AM ET, March 6, 2025

Using the Composite Indexes: The Leading Economic Index (LEI) provides an early indication of significant turning points in the business cycle and where the economy is heading in the near term. The Coincident Economic Index (CEI) provides an indication of the current state of the economy. Additional details are below.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index^®(LEI) for South Korea decreased by 0.6% to 108.8 (2016=100) in January 2025, partially reversing the 0.9% increase in December 2024. Overall, the LEI was unchanged over the six-month period between July 2024 and January 2025, following a growth of 1.1% over the previous six-month period.  

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index^® (CEI) for South Korea decreased by 0.3% to 107.7 (2016=100) in January 2025, after increasing by 0.6% in December 2024. Nonetheless, the CEI expanded by 0.6% over the six-month period between July 2024 and January 2025, after contracting by 1.6% over the previous six-month period between January and July 2024.

“The South Korea LEI decreased in January and overall has been moving sideways for the past 6 months” said Malala Lin, Economic Research Associate, at The Conference Board. “An increase in inventories-to-shipment index, as well as lower exports (3-month moving average) and lower private construction orders drove the LEI’s decline in January. As a result, the semi-annual growth rate stalled at no growth. In addition, the annual growth rate of the LEI, while still positive, remained on a downward trend, indicating possible moderation ahead. The Conference Board currently expects real GDP to grow by 1.8% in 2025, after expanding by 2.1% in 2024.”

The next release is scheduled for Thursday, April 10th, 2025, at 10:30 A.M. ET.