The Economic Planning Agency said Wednesday that three economic gauges exceeded the 50 percent boom-or-bust line in October for the first time since November 1996.

The index of coincident indicators, a measure of the state of the economy, stood at 85.7 percent in the latest reporting month, meaning that the economy is continuing its recovery, said Yoshihiko Senoo, head of the EPA'S Business Statistics Research Division.

The index of leading indicators, which projects economic growth six to nine months down the road, was also 85.7 percent.

The index of lagging indicators, a gauge of economic activity in the recent past, came in at 58.3 percent, which is the first time it has been above the boom-or-bust line of 50 percent since July 1997, the EPA said in the preliminary report.

According to the EPA, a reading above 50 percent is considered a sign of economic expansion, while a reading below that level is taken as a sign of contraction.

Whether the lagging index will stay above 50 percent next month is uncertain and should be monitored, Senoo said.

Both the coincident and leading indexes topped 50 percent in October after the former fell to 50 percent and the latter to 45 percent in their revisions for September, the agency said.

The coincident index for September was revised downward in the day's report to 50 percent from the earlier revised 55.6 percent, falling short of surpassing 50 percent for the first time in 17 months. The lagging index was revised to 42.9 percent from 33 percent.

With the last of its 11 component indicators for September to be released on Monday, the final reading of the October coincident index may end up on either side of the 50 percent threshold, Senoo said.

But neither outcome will undermine the EPA's view that the economy is picking up, the official added, discounting the special production downturn in September due to heavy rains in the Tokai region.

Looking into October's coincident index, meanwhile, he said the course of two consumption-related components -- department store sales and wholesalers' sales -- should be carefully watched despite their displaying of growth compared with three months ago.

The indexes of the coincident, leading and lagging indicators compare the current levels of various economic indicators with their levels three months earlier.

The coincident index's move in November also needs close monitoring, given that a major production indicator is projected to have leveled out between October and November, the official said.