The leading economic indicators are those that:

The leading economic indicators are designed to predict future economic activity, making this choice the correct one. These indicators provide valuable insights into the direction of the economy before changes actually occur. They typically include metrics such as stock market performance, unemployment claims, and new orders for durable goods, which signal future economic expansions or contractions.

In contrast, the other options describe characteristics of different types of economic indicators. Some indicators are lagging, meaning they provide data after economic events have occurred, which helps in understanding past economic performance. Others are coincident indicators, which change in line with the economy and indicate the current state of economic activity but do not offer foresight. Additionally, while some indicators may present interpretation challenges, this does not define their primary purpose as leading indicators serve as forecasts of future trends. Thus, the ability of leading indicators to anticipate changes in economic conditions is what sets them apart and makes this choice the most accurate.