By Rex Nutting
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Leading U.S. economic indicators increased 1.1% in December and have risen for nine straight months, suggesting "that the pace of improvement could pick up this spring," according to a report released by the Conference Board on Thursday. The rise in the leading index was stronger than the 0.7% increase expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. Eight of the 10 leading indicators improved in December, a broad-based gain that points to "an economy in early recovery," said Ken Goldstein, an economist for the Conference Board, a private research organization. The coincident index increased 0.1% in December, the fifth increase in the past six months.
