Business week ahead, March 26-30

KEY EVENT: Unemployment update. The state Labor Department on Tuesday releases unemployment rates in February for Nassau, Suffolk and Long Island as a whole. The Long Island unemployment rate in January was 4.9 percent, highest for any month in nearly three years. Labor market analysts said the jobless rate was not a concern yet, noting that overall employment is rising.

MONDAY: Earnings from payroll processor Paychex and software maker Red Hat.

TUESDAY: Home prices for January from S&P/Case-Shiller. In the previous report, for December, home prices in the New York metropolitan area were the highest since March 2008. Earnings: spice-maker McCormick, drive-through restaurant chain Sonic.

WEDNESDAY: The Commerce Department releases its third and final estimate of first-quarter GDP. Also, pending home sales in February from the National Association of Realtors. Earnings: Melville power tools maker P&F Industries, BlackBerry, Calvin Klein brand owner PVH, Walgreens Boots Alliance.

THURSDAY: Jobless benefits claims for the week ended March 24 from the U.S. Labor Department. Also, personal income and spending for February from the Commerce Department. And consumer sentiment in March from the University of Michigan. Earnings: Corona beer brand owner Constellation Brands.

FRIDAY: U.S. stock markets closed for Good Friday.