Business Week Index

THE WEEK AHEAD

LEADING INDICATORS

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 8:30 a.m.EST -- The index of leading indicators, now compiled

by the Conference Board, was probably flat in December, after slipping 0.3% in

November. The November index is expected to be revised sharply now that more

government data are available. The index has not risen since August.

HUMPHREY-HAWKINS TESTIMONY

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2 p.m.EST -- As required by law, Federal Reserve Chairman

Alan Greenspan will appear before the House subcommittee on monetary policy to

testify on the conduct of monetary policy and disclose the Fed's

central-tendency forecast for economic growth, unemployment, and inflation for

1996.

FEDERAL BUDGET

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m.EST -- The Treasury Dept. is expected to report a

January surplus of $20 billion, according to the median forecast of economists

surveyed by MMS International, one of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Washington had

a surplus of $15.6 billion in January, 1995.

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

Friday, Feb. 23, 8:30 a.m.EST -- Real GDP probably grew at an annual rate of

1.6% in the fourth quarter, says the median MMS forecast. However, a big

improvement in foreign trade may have lifted growth closer to 2% or more. The

economy expanded at a 3.2% pace in the third quarter, but domestic demand

slowed sharply at yearend. The GDP deflator probably increased at a 2.3% annual

rate in the fourth quarter, about the same rise as in the third.

HOUSING STARTS

Friday, Feb. 23, 8:30 a.m.EST -- The MMS survey forecasts that housing starts

fell sharply to an annual rate of 1.25 million in January, from a likely 1.3

million in December and a 1.42 million rate in November. The East Coast

blizzard plus record cold temperatures across much of the nation quashed

homebuilding last month.