Mumbai, April 28 -- The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for China declined by 0.2% in March 2026 to 144.8 (2016=100), matching the 0.2% drop recorded in February. Over the six-month period from September 2025 to March 2026, the LEI contracted by 1.3%, following a steeper 2.0% decline in the preceding six months, pointing to ongoing softness in near-term economic momentum.
In contrast, the Coincident Economic Index (CEI), which reflects current economic conditions, rose by 0.8% in March to 158.2 (2016=100), after a modest 0.1% increase in February. However, its six-month growth slowed to 1.2% between September 2025 and March 2026, less than half the 2.5% expansion seen in the previous six-month period.
Overall, the data sugge...