Economic indicators

The U.S. international trade gap narrowed in August to $42.4 billion, following a revised smaller $43.6 billion gap in July.

Initial claims U.S. state unemployment benefits fell by 12,000 to 260,000 in the Sept. 30 week, below the 266,000 level expected.

About 4,482,300 online job postings appeared on leading internet job boards in September, the Conference Board reported Wednesday.

The U.S. services sector expanded in September as the non-manufacturing business activity composite index was 59.8 in the month, compared to 55.3 in August, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Institute for Supply Management reported Wednesday.

Private-sector employment increased by 135,000 in September, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ADP estimated Wednesday.

“New York City purchasing managers reported current business conditions, employment, and quantity of purchases are in contraction."

Construction spending was up 0.5% in August, with a 0.4% increase in private construction and a larger 0.7% increase in public construction, data released by the Commerce Department Monday morning showed.

The overall economy grew for the hundredth straight time, the Institute for Supply Management reported Monday.

The University of Michigan's final September consumer sentiment index reading was 95.1, compared to the preliminary September 95.3, and the final August 96.8, according to market sources.

The Chicago Business Barometer rose to 65.2 in September from 58.9 in August, the ISM-Chicago reported on Friday. It was the highest level in three months and the second highest in over three years.

Personal income rose an expected 0.2% in August while a weaker-than-expected 0.1% rise in the core PCE price index cut the year on year rate for core inflation growth to 1.3% from 1.4% in July, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

Manufacturing activity in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's region "continued to expand at a solid pace and … firms remained optimistic about the future."

Initial claims U.S. state unemployment benefits rose by 12,000 to 272,000 in the September 23 week, above the 265,000 level expected.

Second quarter GDP growth was revised up slightly to a 3.1% annual rate from the 3.0% pace in the second estimate.

Pending home sales declined 2.5% to an index reading of 106.3 in August.

U.S. durable goods orders climbed 1.7% in August, while excluding transportation orders were up 0.2%, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

Texas service sector activity “picked up slightly in September.”

The pace of new single-family home sales fell by 3.4% to 560,000 at a seasonally adjusted annual rate in August.

The consumer confidence index decreased to 119.8 in September from a revised 120.4 last month.

Service sector activity “remained generally upbeat in September.”