A widely watched gage of future U.S. economic activity rose in October.

Monday's report from a business research group showed the index of leading economic indicators growing nine-tenths of a point to 137.9.

The index is intended to predict economic performance three to six months in the future.

The increase was more than economists expected and a change from the previous month, which saw a decline.

Analysts say the labor market is recovering from the effects of recent hurricanes. 

Some information for this story provided by AFP and AP.