It's not a sign of economic health when soapmakers lead S&P 500

New York

THE best-performing US stocks right now are those that usually do well when the economy isn't, makers of everything from household cleaning products to food. It's yet another black cloud for investors fretting over a growth slowdown.

Consumer staples stocks in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index - which include Procter & Gamble Co and Coca-Cola Co - have outpaced the benchmark gau…