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For Release 10:30 AM ET, October 8, 2025
Using the Composite Indexes: The Leading Economic Index (LEI) provides an early indication of significant turning points in the business cycle and where the economy is heading in the near term. The Coincident Economic Index (CEI) provides an indication of the current state of the economy. Additional details are below.
Note: A higher-than-usual number of components were forecasted for South Korea’s Leading Economic Index (LEI) for August. This adjustment reflects the temporary unavailability of certain official data series due to the recent fire at the National Information Resources Service Daejeon Center, which has led to the suspension of data releases. Therefore, please note that this LEI is an estimated reading.
For more information, please visit https://www.conference-board.org/topics/business-cycle-indicators/ or contact us at indicators@conference-board.org.
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index®(LEI) for South Korea increased by 0.3% to 112.4 (2016=100) in August 2025, after increasing by 0.7% in July. The LEI expanded by 2.8% over the six-month period between February and August 2025, after increasing by 0.3% over the previous six-month period between August 2024 and February 2025.
The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for South Korea ticked down by 0.1% to 109.5 (2016=100) in August 2025, after increasing by 0.8% in July. Overall, the CEI increased by 0.2% over the six-month period between February and August 2025, after a 1.4% increase over the previous six-month period.
“The South Korea LEI increased in August” said Malala Lin, Economic Research Associate, at The Conference Board. “The increase was driven by stronger exports (3-month-moving average), stock prices (monthly average), which reached a multi-year high, and an estimated increase in private construction orders. A slight decline in bonds yield also supported the Index. Additionally, the annual growth rate steadied in August, suggesting continued solid growth going forward. Currently, The Conference Board expects real GDP growth to improve in 2H2025 and going into 2026, recovering from lackluster growth in the first half of 2025. Overall, we forecast growth at 1.1% this year and 2.0% in 2026.”
The next release is scheduled for Monday, November 10, 2025, at 10:30 A.M. ET. – Please note that we monitor the availability of underlying data for the next scheduled release, which might have to be rescheduled if the regular official data publications have not resumed.
About The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) and Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for South Korea
The composite economic indexes are key elements in an analytic system designed to signal peaks and troughs in the business cycle. Comprised of multiple independent indicators, the indexes are constructed to summarize and reveal common turning points in the economy in a clearer and more convincing manner than any individual component.
The CEI reflects current economic conditions and is highly correlated with real GDP. The LEI is a predictive tool that anticipates—or “leads”—turning points in the business cycle by around three months.
The six components of the Leading Economic Index® for South Korea are:
The four components of the Coincident Economic Index® for South Korea are:
To access data, please visit: https://data-central.conference-board.org/
About The Conference Board
The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead®. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. ConferenceBoard.org
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All release times displayed are Eastern Time
Note: Due to the US federal government shutdown, all further releases for The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI), The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine® Index (HWOL Index), The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® of the US (US LEI) and The Conference Board Global Leading Economic Index® (Global LEI) data may be delayed. TCB will resume publication once updated US federal government data are released.
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