Travel Biz Index Indicates Ongoing Growth

<B> Travel Biz Index Indicates Ongoing Growth</B>

The July Travel Business Roundtable Index of Leading Economic Indicators rose a healthy 0.8 percent, contributing to a 4.3 percent rise in the previous 12 months.

The Conference Board's U.S. Index of Leading Economic Indicators also grew 0.3 percent in July, for an annualized growth of 2.5 percent since 1ast July.

Of the nine components of the TBR Index, three were particularly strong in July, the hotel/motel revenue index and occupancy rate, as reported by Smith Travel Research, and the daily rental car price index provided by a top industry provider.

Four other segments were up slightly or virtually unchanged: Air Transport Association revenue passenger miles, retail sales at eating and drinking establishments according to the Department of Commerce and Bureau of Census, personal consumption expenditures for travel and other discretionary products provided by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics level of travel industry employment.

Declines in July came in total Airlines Reporting Corp. sales and the Conference Board's consumer confidence index.