Business Week Index: The Week Ahead

Business Week Index: THE WEEK AHEAD

BusinessWeek Index: THE WEEK AHEAD

FEDERAL BUDGET

Wednesday, Feb. 22 The U.S. Treasury is expected to post a surplus of $13.5

billion in January, according to the median forecast of economists surveyed by

MMS International, a division of McGraw-Hill Inc. Washington recorded a $15.2

billion surplus in January, 1994. Strong economic growth is lifting tax

receipts. The Clinton Administration forecasts that the deficit for fiscal

1995, which began in October, will total $192.5 billion.

CAPITAL SPENDING PLANS

Thursday, Feb. 23, 8:30 a.m. The Commerce Dept.'s survey of plant and

equipment spending for 1995 will probably show that all industries are set to

lift capital budgets by about 7%. That would be only slightly below the 8.8%

increase planned for 1994. Beginning this year, Commerce sill conduct its

spending survey only twice a year, replacing its quarterly report. The

revamping was done to be consistent with the department's Annual Capital

Expenditures Survey. The latest spending plans will be significant because

business investment is expected to be a growth leader this year.

DURABLE GOODS ORDERS

Friday, Feb. 24, 8:30 a.m. New orders taken by durable-goods manufacturers

probably fell by 0.5% in January, says the MMS survey. Orders rose 3.4% in

November and 1.5% in December. A big increase in demand for military hardware

boosted the December figure, however, and those orders likely were not repeated

in January. The projected decline in new bookings indicates that the backlog of

unfilled orders fell last month after increasing slightly for four consecutive

months.

EXISTING HOME SALES

Friday, Feb. 24, 8:45 a.m. Sales of existing homes probably fell to an

annual rate of 3.75 million in January. Sales have zigzagged since last summer,

thanks to higher mortgage rates. In December, they rose 1.8%, to a 3.89 million

pace, after slipping 2.3% in November.