CONFERENCE BOARD, THE: A private, non-profit, global organization established in 1916 that collects and distributes economic data to assist consumers, business leaders, and government policy makers in their economic decisions. The Conference Board is responsible for compiling the leading, coincident, and lagging economic indicators that are used to track business-cycle activity as well as the widely publicized Consumer Confidence Index. The Conference Board also convenes numerous conferences each year that provide forums to discuss and analyze pressing economic issues. See also | business cycle indicators | leading economic indicators | coincident economic indicators | lagging economic indicators | National Bureau of Economic Research | Consumer Confidence Index | Index of Consumer Sentiment | business cycles | expansion | contraction | business cycle phases | full employment | economic growth | demand-driven business cycles | investment business cycles | political business cycles | stabilization policies | full employment | potential real gross domestic product | economic growth | political views |
