Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
This paper examines the performance of the Central Statistical Office's leading indicators for predicting turning points in the U.K. growth cycle. Three methods for extracting a signal are considered: a simple mechanical rule based upon the direction of consecutive movements in the leading indicator and two probabilistic models, namely a standard Bayesian procedure and the sequential probability model. The results suggest that usefulness of the shorter leading index is limited and typically outperformed by naive, nonindicator methods. The longer leading index performs only slightly better showing a lead time of between four and six months in relation to the reference cycle. Coauthors are Robin C. Bladen-Hovell, Denise R. Osborn, Graham W. Smith, and Wenda Zhang. Copyright 1995 by Royal Economic Society.