Business Week Index: THE WEEK AHEAD

BusinessWeek Index: THE WEEK AHEAD

PERSONAL INCOME Monday, Jan. 30, 8:30 a.m. Personal income likely rose by 0.6%

in December after falling 0.1% in November, according to the median forecast of

economists polled by MMS International, a unit of McGraw-Hill Inc. Consumer

spending probably increased 0.3% last month, half of the 0.6% gain in November.

EMPLOYMENT COSTS

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 8:30 a.m. Wages and benefits for private workers likely grew

0.8% in the fourth quarter, up slightly from 0.7% in the third quarter. If so,

labor costs for all of 1994 rose 3.1%, slower than the 3.4% advance in 1993.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 10 a.m. Consumer confidence probably slipped to 101.8 in

January, says the MMS survey. In December, the confidence index was 102.2.

LEADING INDICATORS

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 8:30 a.m. The government's composite index of leading

indicators likely rose just 0.1% in December, on top of a 0.3% advance in

November.

NAPM SURVEY

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m. The National Association of Purchasing Management's

business index likely fell to 57% in January, from 57.5% in December.

CONSTRUCTION SPENDING

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m. Building outlays probably rose 0.4% in December on

top of a strong 0.7% gain in November.

NEW SINGLE-FAMILY HOME SALES

Thursday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m. Sales likely fell to a 680,000 annual rate in

December. November sales slid 2.5% to 693,000.

EMPLOYMENT

Friday, Feb. 3, 8:30 a.m. The MMS survey calls for a 220,000 gain in nonfarm

payrolls in January, just a bit slower than the 256,000 new jobs created in

December. The January jobless rate is expected to be unchanged from December's

5.4%.