Economic Growth To Extend To New Year

The economy’s steady but cautious growth is set to continue beyond the holiday shopping season, according to a private report released Tuesday.

The Index of Leading Economic Indicators, a key gauge of future economic activity, rose 0.2 percent in October, the sixth straight monthly gain, according to The Conference Board.

“This modest increase … projects a pretty healthy economy going into the start of next year,” said Gary Thayer, senior economist at A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. “The majority of consumers are doing pretty well right now, and confidence is pretty high.”

Separately, an industry group reported the number of homeowners more than 30 days overdue on payments rose slightly in the three months ending in September.