S.D. County economic indicator up in January; highest since June 2008; rising gas prices could have negative impact

SAN DIEGO (Wire Service) - The monthly University of San Diego Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate's Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County, released today, rose 0.9 percent in January to 118.1, its highest mark since June 2008.

It's the third increase in a row, and the biggest improvement since a one percent uptick last April, USD business professor Alan Gin said.

The jump was led by sharp increases in consumer confidence, initial claims for unemployment insurance, and local stock prices, according to Gin.

He said help-wanted advertising and the outlook for the national e...