The economy south of the border xpanded again in November, according to a survey of leading indicators, but growth fell to the slowest pace in five months amid a record surge in coronavirus cases.
The Conference Board reported Friday its leading economic index (LEI) increased 0.6% last month, a bit better than Wall Street had forecast.
The index had risen 0.8% in October and 0.7%.
The leading index was propelled higher by a decline in jobless claims, increased manufacturing orders and rising stock prices.
Yet jobless claims have surged again in December and other key segments of the economy have weakened, which could lead to a decline in the leading index in December for the first time since May.
The LEI is a weighted gauge of 10 indicators designed to signal business-cycle peaks and valleys.