Business Week Index: THE WEEK AHEAD

BusinessWeek Index: THE WEEK AHEAD

PERSONAL INCOME

Monday, Oct. 30, 8:30 a.m. -- Personal income likely rose 0.5% in September,

while consumer spending was up 0.3%. Those are the median forecasts of

economists surveyed by MMS International, one of The McGraw-Hill Cos. Incomes

were flat in August, while spending surged 1%.

EMPLOYMENT COST INDEX

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 8:30 a.m. -- Labor costs for civilian workers likely rose

0.7% in the third quarter, the same as in the second.

NEW HOME SALES

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. -- The MMS survey probably forecast that new

single-family home sales stood at an annual rate of 713,000 in September.

That's little changed from August's 710,000 pace.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. -- The Conference Board's index of consumer

confidence probably increased to 98.7 in October, from 97.4 in September.

LEADING INDICATORS

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m. -- The index of leading indicators was probably

flat in September, after rising 0.2% in August. The report will be prepared by

the Conference Board, which will take control of the index from the Commerce

Dept. at yearend.

NAPM SURVEY

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m. -- The National Association of Purchasing

Management's business index likely stood at 49.5% in October, up from 48.3% in

September.

CONSTRUCTION SPENDING

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m. -- Construction spending probably jumped 0.6% in

September, after falling 0.2% in August.

EMPLOYMENT

Friday, Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m. -- The MMS survey projects that nonfarm jobs rose by

125,000 in October, on par with the 121,000 gain in September. October's

unemployment rate remained at 5.6%.