Business Week Index

THE WEEK AHEAD

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.EDT -- Consumer prices for August are expected to

have risen 0.3%, based on the median forecast of economists surveyed by MMS

International, a unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies. The CPI increased 0.2% in

July. Rising energy costs probably boosted the August gain. Excluding energy

and foods, the core index is projected to have risen by 0.2%, the same as in

July.

BUSINESS INVENTORIES

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.EDT -- Inventories held by manufacturers,

wholesalers, and retailers are expected to have risen 0.3% in July, based on

the MMS survey, after June's 0.7% rise. Business sales likely increased at a

faster rate, given the 1.7% jump in July factory shipments.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 9:15 a.m.EDT -- The MMS poll projects that industrial output

in August rose 0.5%, after July's 0.2% gain. As a result, the operating rate is

expected to have increased, to 83.3% from 83.1%.

HOUSING STARTS

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m.EDT -- Builders are expected to have broken

ground on new homes in August at an annual rate of 1.45 million, says the MMS

poll, about the same pace as in July.

BEIGE BOOK

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2 p.m.EDT -- The Federal Reserve will release its latest

survey of business conditions in each of the 12 Fed districts. The summary is

prepared for the upcoming policy meeting on Sept. 30, and it will be

scrutinized by the markets for signs of the Fed's policy intent.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Thursday, Sept. 18, 8:30 a.m.EDT -- The trade deficit for goods and services in

July is projected to have widened to $9.5 billion, according to the MMS survey.

The gap had narrowed sharply in June, to $8.2 billion. The forecasts expect

exports to have fallen and imports to have increased.