The index of leading U.S. economic indicators improved for a second month in April, a sign the economy may not keep weakening in the second half of the year, Bloomberg reported.

The Conference Board’s gauge rose 0.1 percent for a second month, better than forecast, the New York-based research group said today. The measure points to the direction of the economy over the next three to six months. The index had been forecast to be unchanged, according to the median estimate of 53 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Seven consecutive reductions by Federal Reserve policy-makers in the benchmark interest rate and their efforts to pump more money into the banking system, combined with $117 billion in tax rebates, may promote borrowing and spending. The boost may help the economy start to recover in the second half of the year.

The increase in March was the first gain since September. A decline in the index of around 4 percent to 4.5 percent at an annual pace over six months is one signal a recession is imminent, according to the Conference Board. The gauge met that requirement in January, when it dropped at a 4.7 percent pace. The index through April was down at an annual pace of 2.3 percent over the prior six months.