Business Week Index

THE WEEK AHEAD

NAPM SURVEY

Monday, Apr. 1, 10 a.m.EST -- The National Association of Purchasing

Management's business index likely rose to 46.5% in March from 45.2% in

February. So says the median forecast of economists surveyed by MMS

International, one of The McGraw-Hill Companies. The index would still be below

the 50% mark, indicating the industrial sector is struggling.

CONSTRUCTION SPENDING

Monday, Apr. 1, 10 a.m.EST -- Construction spending probably rose 0.5% on

February. Spending was up 0.3% in January. The additional rise in February is

indicated by the month's gain in housing starts.

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

Tuesday, Apr. 2, 8:30 a.m.EST -- The MMS forecast expects fourth-quarter real

GDP growth to remain at a 0.9% annual rate.

LEADING INDICATORS

Tuesday, Apr. 2, 8:30 a.m.EST -- The index of leading indicators likely

rebounded 0.9% in February, after January's 0.5% drop.

PERSONAL INCOME

Wednesday, Apr. 3, 8:30 a.m.EST -- Personal income probably jumped 0.7% in

February, after eking out a 0.1% gain in January. That's suggested by the surge

in February payrolls. February consumer spending likely rebounded 0.7%, after

slipping 0.5%.

FACTORY INVENTORIES

Wednesday, Apr. 3, 10 a.m.EST -- Factory inventories likely fell 0.5% in

February, after rising a large 0.7% in January.

EMPLOYMENT

Friday, Apr. 5, 8:30 a.m.EST -- The MMS median forecast is that nonfarm

payrolls edged up 77,000 in March. That's after the unexpected surge of 705,000

in February. March's unemployment rate likely rose to 5.7%, from 5.5% in

February. The Dow Jones industrial average plunged 171 points after the release

of the February report. However, because of Good Friday, the stock market will

be closed when the March report is released.