A forecast of US economic activity rose for the eighth straight month in November, a private research group said, signaling the economic rebound will continue next year. The Conference Board said its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.9 percent last month, up from 0.3 percent in October. The Conference Board said six of the 10 indicators it uses for the index increased last month. Improvements in financial conditions, housing permits and the labor market boosted the index last month, said Conference Board economist Ataman Ozyildirim. A separate measurement of the growth rate forecast over the past six months has slowed, however. In the half-year through November, the index grew at a 4.7 percent pace, down from the 5.9 percent pace in the half-year through September and the 5.2 percent pace through October. Meanwhile, new US claims for unemployment benefits climbed for a second straight week but remained below the level of 500,000.
