Conference Board Organization

Chief executives were more pessimistic over the U.S. economy's prospects in the third quarter, according to a private survey. The Conference Board's index of CEO confidence fell to 44 -- a second straight decline and the lowest level since the third quarter of 2006 -- from 45 in the second quarter, the New York research group said. Readings below 50 reflect more negative than positive responses.

The Conference Board climbed on the bandwagon Thursday to restore confidence in corporate America, assembling a blue-chip panel to issue guidelines on thorny issues such as stock options. But whether the influential research group's 15-member panel--boasting the likes of former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, Vanguard Group founder John Bogle and former Johnson & Johnson Chairman Ralph Larsen--will be able to sway corporate behavior is up for debate.

new york -- A closely watched gauge of future economic activity edged up in July, reversing the previous month's decline. The recent erratic pattern reflects uncertainty in a U.S. economy roiled by a credit crunch. The Conference Board said Monday that its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.4% in July, as analysts had expected. The index fell 0.3% in June, after rising 0.2% in May. The report is designed to suggest the level of economic activity over the next three to six months.

new york -- A closely watched gauge of future economic activity edged up in July, reversing the previous month's decline. The recent erratic pattern reflects uncertainty in a U.S. economy roiled by a credit crunch. The Conference Board said Monday that its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.4% in July, as analysts had expected. The index fell 0.3% in June, after rising 0.2% in May. The report is designed to suggest the level of economic activity over the next three to six months.

An index of leading U.S. economic indicators rose for a second month in October, pointing to a gradual strengthening of the expansion early next year. The Conference Board's measure increased 0.2% after a revised 0.4% September gain that was bigger than initially reported, the New York-based group said Monday. The index points to the direction of the economy over the next three to six months.

For the first time in nine years, many white-collar workers will get pay raises of less than 4% in 2002, according to a report released Monday. The Conference Board survey is the latest indication that compensation gains are slowing, and raises concerns among economists that smaller raises could dampen consumer spending and economic growth.

A panel of business leaders said Tuesday that America's executives are overpaid and called on corporate directors to take steps to rein in compensation, including requiring companies to record stock options grants as an expense. The 12-member panel of the Conference Board, which includes former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Arthur Levitt and Intel Corp. Chairman Andy Grove, issued 23 recommendations in all. The members were unanimous on everything but the options recommendation.

Chief executives were more pessimistic over the U.S. economy's prospects in the third quarter, according to a private survey. The Conference Board's index of CEO confidence fell to 44 -- a second straight decline and the lowest level since the third quarter of 2006 -- from 45 in the second quarter, the New York research group said. Readings below 50 reflect more negative than positive responses.

Feeling generally upbeat about the coming year despite higher interest rates and a volatile stock market, the vast majority of Los Angeles consumers plan to spend at least as much this holiday season as they did in 1999, according to a survey released Wednesday. Nationwide, 82% of the consumers said they plan to spend at least as much as last year, while 77% of Los Angeles shoppers expect to match or surpass last year's spending.

An index of leading U.S. economic indicators rose for a second month in October, pointing to a gradual strengthening of the expansion early next year. The Conference Board's measure increased 0.2% after a revised 0.4% September gain that was bigger than initially reported, the New York-based group said Monday. The index points to the direction of the economy over the next three to six months.

A panel of business leaders said Tuesday that America's executives are overpaid and called on corporate directors to take steps to rein in compensation, including requiring companies to record stock options grants as an expense. The 12-member panel of the Conference Board, which includes former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Arthur Levitt and Intel Corp. Chairman Andy Grove, issued 23 recommendations in all. The members were unanimous on everything but the options recommendation.

Carolyn Brancato was supposed to advise the top officials of the oil-rich sultanate of Oman on how to clean up their stock market. Instead she found herself fielding offers of condolence. "Everyone was dressed in their robes and talking about Enron and I thought to myself, wait a minute, I'm in the wrong movie," said Brancato, director of the Global Corporate Governance Research Center at the New York-based Conference Board, a business think tank.

For the first time in nine years, many white-collar workers will get pay raises of less than 4% in 2002, according to a report released Monday. The Conference Board survey is the latest indication that compensation gains are slowing, and raises concerns among economists that smaller raises could dampen consumer spending and economic growth.

The Conference Board climbed on the bandwagon Thursday to restore confidence in corporate America, assembling a blue-chip panel to issue guidelines on thorny issues such as stock options. But whether the influential research group's 15-member panel--boasting the likes of former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, Vanguard Group founder John Bogle and former Johnson & Johnson Chairman Ralph Larsen--will be able to sway corporate behavior is up for debate.

A key gauge of U.S. economic activity moved slightly higher last month, but not enough to suggest the economy is likely to recover any time soon, analysts said. The Conference Board said Tuesday its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.3% in October to 109.4 after tumbling 0.5% in September and dipping 0.1% in August. "The Federal Reserve is responsible for most of the strength in the index," said Michael Swanson, chief economist at Wells Fargo & Co.

A key gauge of U.S. economic activity moved slightly higher last month, but not enough to suggest the economy is likely to recover any time soon, analysts said. The Conference Board said Tuesday its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.3% in October to 109.4 after tumbling 0.5% in September and dipping 0.1% in August. "The Federal Reserve is responsible for most of the strength in the index," said Michael Swanson, chief economist at Wells Fargo & Co.

Conference Board to Publish Economic Indicators: The government is turning the job of compiling its chief economic forecasting gauge over to a private business group. The Commerce Department, concluding a competition among six bidders, said that allowing the Conference Board, a New York-based research group, to publish the index of leading economic indicators will save the government about $450,000 a year.

Feeling generally upbeat about the coming year despite higher interest rates and a volatile stock market, the vast majority of Los Angeles consumers plan to spend at least as much this holiday season as they did in 1999, according to a survey released Wednesday. Nationwide, 82% of the consumers said they plan to spend at least as much as last year, while 77% of Los Angeles shoppers expect to match or surpass last year's spending.