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A vast array of physical and biological systems across the earth are being affected by warming temperatures caused by humans, says a new analysis of information not previously assembled all in one spot. The effects on living things include earlier leafing of trees and plants over many regions; movements of species to higher latitudes and altitudes in the northern hemisphere; changes in bird migrations in Europe, North America and Australia; and shifting of the oceans' plankton and fish from cold- to warm-adapted communities. "Humans are influencing climate through increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and the warming world is causing impacts on...

The Conference Board announced today that the U.S. leading index increased 0.3 percent, the coincident index increased 0.2 percent and the lagging index increased 0.5 percent in September. The leading index increased in September, the third increase in the last six months, and these increases and decreases have been alternating and offsetting each other. As a result, the leading index is now at the same level as in March 2007.

The Conference Board announced today that the U.S. leading index decreased 0.5 percent, the coincident index increased 0.2 percent and the lagging index increased 0.2 percent in April.

You read this magazine religiously, watch CNBC while dressing for work, scan the Web for economic reports. You've heard, over and over, about the underlying problems with the U.S. economy -- the paltry investment rate, the yawning current account deficit, the pathetic amount Americans salt away. And you know what the experts are saying: that the U.S. faces a perilous economic future unless we cut back on spending and change our profligate ways. Rest at link. But what if we told you that the doomsayers, while not definitively wrong, aren't seeing the whole picture? What if we told you that...

Oscar Indicators James Hirsen, NewsMax.com The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced its choice of host for the 78th Annual Academy Awards. It's one of today's foremost wisecrackers, host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" Jon Stewart. Stewart apparently landed the Oscar gig after Billy Crystal turned it down citing scheduling conflicts. In a press release announcing the Academy's selection, Stewart lampooned the fact that he was second fiddle, describing it as "another sad attempt to smoke out Billy Crystal." The comic already has some award show experience under his belt, having served as host for the...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending rose 0.2 percent in October, as expected, driving the personal saving rate into negative territory for the fifth straight month, a government report showed on Thursday. Personal income also rose in October, by 0.4 percent - slightly less than the 0.5 percent increase forecast by Wall Street, the Commerce Department said. That followed an outsized 1.7 percent rise in income in September, which was driven by insurance payments in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The department's inflation measure - closely watched by policy-makers at the Federal Reserve - rose just 0.1 percent...

10:00am 12/20/04 Conference Board: LEI up 0.2% vs forecast 0.1%By Corbett B. Daly WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- The U.S. index of leading economic indicators rose for the first time in six months, the Conference Board said Monday. The 0.2 percent increase was slightly faster than expected. Economists polled by CBS MarketWatch had predicted the LEI would rise 0.1 percent in the month. "Although the LEI has declined for nearly half the year, the declines were relatively modest," said Ken Goldstein, economist for the Conference Board. "Even if economic performance early in 2005 proves sluggish, conditions could brighten by spring," Goldstein added....

Here's my list of five "indicators" to watch for tonight . . . 1. Maine -- Kerry will likely win this state, but if Bush manages to pry off one of the four electoral votes under Maine's unusual EV allocation system we'll have a good indication that Bush will win. 2. New Jersey -- Kerry will likely win this state, but if the margin is substantially closer than Gore's 16-point victory in 2000 we are likely to see Bush win most of the swing states. If Bush pulls out a win in New Jersey, you can turn off the television...

ANNANDALE, Va. (CBS.MW) -- Take your pick, folks. Depending on the market on which you focus, investors either are predicting a strong victory for George Bush -- or that he will be going down to defeat. Needless to say, both predictions cannot turn out to be true. The notion that the financial markets might be good political prognosticators is a relatively modern phenomenon. It wasn't until the 1970s, for example, that it became academically respectable to believe that the markets are so efficient in assessing all available information (both publicly-known and that which is privately held) that none of us...

Leading index points to strong growth By Rex Nutting, CBS.MarketWatch.com Last Update: 10:00 AM ET April 19, 2004 WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- The U.S. index of leading economic indicators rose 0.3 percent in March, as expected, the Conference Board reported Monday. "Economic growth in the first quarter was strong and the second quarter may be as good or better," said Ken Goldstein, economist for the board. Economists expected the 0.3 percent gain, according to a survey conducted by CBS MarketWatch. See Economic Calendar. The index was flat in February. In March, six of the 10 leading indicators improved: vendor performance, money...