The Week Ahead: Oct. 27-31

KEY EVENT: Ringing the bellwethers. A first look at third-quarter GDP, a Federal Reserve meeting, updates on the housing market and a torrent of corporate earnings could foretell how the economy will perform for the rest of the year.

MONDAY: The National Association of Realtors releases pending home sales for September. Earnings: Merck.

TUESDAY: The closely watched S&P Case-Shiller home prices index for August. Also, the Commerce Department releases durable goods orders for September. Earnings: Carle Place gift seller 1-800-Flowers.com, New Hyde Park shopping centers owner Kimco Realty, Melville industrial supplies distributor MSC Industrial Direct, Facebook, Pfizer.

WEDNESDAY: The Federal Reserve issues an update on the economy and is also expected to offer more information on when it will consider raising interest rates. Earnings: Melville data-storage software maker FalconStor, Plainview LED tools provider Veeco Instruments.

THURSDAY: The Commerce Department releases third-quarter GDP. Also, jobless benefits claims for the week ended Oct. 25 from the Labor Department. Earnings: Port Washington shopping centers owner Cedar Realty Trust, Kellogg, MasterCard, Starbucks, Time Warner Cable.

FRIDAY: Personal income and spending for September from the Commerce Department and consumer sentiment for October from the University of Michigan. Earnings: Chevron, Exxon Mobil.