Indicators suggest continued economic growth (by Ruth Mantell)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Data suggest that the economy will continue to grow this winter, and possibly pick up momentum by spring, the Conference Board said Thursday as it reported that its index of leading economic indicators grew 0.5% in November, led by the interest-rate spread and building permits. However, this outlook could be derailed by problems in Europe, noted Ken Goldstein, a Conference Board economist, in a statement. "This somewhat positive outlook for the domestic economy is at odds with a global economy that appears to be losing steam," Goldstein said. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected growth of 0.3% in November, compared with a 0.9% gain in October. The LEI is a weighted gauge of 10 indicators that are designed to signal business cycle peaks and troughs. Among the 10 indicators that make up the LEI, seven made positive contributions in November.