News In Brief

US economic bell wether resumed climb in April

The government's economic barometer resumed its climb in April after a slight decline the previous month, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The index of leading economic indicators rose 0.5 percent in April, the department said. The agency also revised the decline in March to only 0.1 percent, instead of the 1.1 percent drop earlier reported. March's decline had been the first in 19 months.

Taken together, behavior of the index the past two months shows that economic expansion is still healthy. Administration officials welcome the signs of continuing vigor as good news that will aid President Reagan's bid for reelection.