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Last week, all eyes were on the stock market, as the Dow Jones industrial average revisited its record highs. This week, it's all about the job market, as several key reports are due out on the nation's employment outlook. With the U.S. economy slowing, don't be surprised if the job market has cooled down.
Monday, October 2:
MANUFACTURING INDEX: The Institute for Supply Management will release the latest results of its closely followed manufacturing index, which tracks factory activity nationwide. If the economy is truly slowing, as many economists believe, then the ISM index should reflect that.
Tuesday, October 3:
LAYOFF REPORT: The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas is due to release its monthly layoff survey, which tallies all the job cuts announced by corporate America.
FED SPEAK: Thomas Hoenig, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, will give a speech in Albuquerque, N.M.
AUTO SALES: Detroit's Big Three automakers will release their latest monthly sales results.
Wednesday, October 4:
SERVICE-SECTOR INDEX: The Institute for Supply Management is scheduled to release its nonmanufacturing index, which gauges the health of the nation's service economy.
FED SPEAK: Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is scheduled to address the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
Thursday, October 5:
MONSTER EMPLOYMENT INDEX: The online job site Monster.com will release the latest results of its employment index, which tracks the job market's vitality by gauging trends in online recruitment.
FED SPEAK: Charles Plosser, the new president of the Philadelphia Fed, will address the nation's monetary policy and economy in a speech before the Chartered Financial Analysts Society of Philadelphia.
EARNINGS TO WATCH: Marriott International
Friday, October 6:
JOBS REPORT: The Labor Department will release its September jobs report. Keep an eye on the actual unemployment rate. The big fear among economists is that if homeowners start to lose their jobs in this slowing economy, home prices could fall as cash-strapped owners unload their properties. That, in turn, could further cool the overall economy.
