NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Leading economic indicators increased slightly in December, the Conference Board announced Thursday.

The private research group said its index of leading indicators, a measure of future economic activity, rose 0.2 percent, in line with the consensus forecast of economists surveyed by Briefing.com.

This is the second consecutive increase in the leading index, following five straight declines. November's increase was revised up slightly to 0.3 percent from 0.2 percent.

Four of the ten indicators that make up the leading index contributed to its gain in December, including improvements in consumer expectations, stock prices, real money supply and average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance.

The indicators showing weakness were vendor performance, interest rate spread, manufacturers' new orders for nondefense capital goods, building permits, and manufacturers' new orders for consumer goods and materials.

The growth rate of the leading index is consistent with the economy continuing to expand, according to the Conference Board.

"That the index is starting to turn more positive is telling us to look for a better economic outlook overall as early as spring," Ken Goldstein, a Conference Board economist, told CNN/Money.

The coincident index, an index of current economic activity, also edged higher, increasing 0.3 percent.

The report had little impact on U.S. stock prices, which continued to slump in early trading. Treasury bond prices fell on the news but quickly regained losses.