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October 21, 2004 11:00 AM, EDT

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he Conference Board said Thursday its index of leading economic indicators fell 0.1% in September, the fourth consecutive decline.

September’s dip followed a 0.3% decline the month before. The four months of declines in the leading index was the longest since June-September 2002.

The LEI is closely watched by trucking companies because it forecasts business activity for the next three to six months.

The index of coincident indicators, a gauge of current economic conditions, rose 0.2%. The index tracks payrolls, incomes, sales and production. The index of lagging indicators was unchanged in September compared with an August fall of 0.3%.

ive of the 10 indicators that the Conference Board tracks to derive the index led to the September decrease. Measures of vendor performance, which is the amount of time it takes to fill orders, the yield spread on the Treasury Department’s 10-year note, average factory workweek, jobless claims and consumer goods orders were negative contributors.

A rise in building permits, stock prices, capital goods orders and money supply were positive contributors.