A key gauge of the US economy's performance rose sharply in November, according to a private research group Friday, signalling the country's recovery may be gathering steam. The New York-based Conference Board's Leading Economic Index jumped 1.1 per cent in November to 112.4, marking the fifth straight monthly increase. The index had gained 0.4 per cent in October and 0.6 per cent in September, according to dpa. The sharp rise marked "an early sign that the expansion is gaining momentum and spreading," said Ataman Ozyildirim, an economist with the research group. Nine of the 10 indicators that make up the index rose in November, including consumer expectations and drops in claims of unemployment benefits. Housing marked the only sector that was still suffering.
