U.S. leading economic indicators up a tad

NEW YORK, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Leading U.S. economic indicators were up slightly in December, a smaller-than-expected gain after two big months of improvement.

The Conference Board said its widely followed index of leading economic indicators was up last month 0.1 percent to 138.5. The index had increased 0.9 percent in November and rose 1 percent in October.

Six of the ten indicators that make up the leading index increased in December. Consumer expectations, real money supply and stock prices led the index higher.

But vendor performance, manufacturers' new orders for non-defense capital goods, building permits and average weekly manufacturing hours weighed on the index.