The Week Ahead, Sept. 1-5

KEY EVENT: Labor Days. Main Street celebrates Labor Day tomorrow, but will Wall Street be celebrating on Friday when the Labor Department releases the unemployment rate and jobs created for August?

MONDAY: U.S. financial markets closed for Labor Day.

TUESDAY: The Commerce Department releases construction spending for July. Also, the August manufacturing index from the Institute for Supply Management.

WEDNESDAY: The Federal Reserve releases the September beige book, a compendium of recent anecdotal economic information. Also, carmakers post August motor vehicle sales, and the Commerce Department releases July factory orders. And payroll processor ADP publishes its estimate of private-sector jobs created in August. Earnings: H&R Block, apparel maker PVH, home builder Toll Brothers.

THURSDAY: Jobless benefits claims for the week ended Aug. 30 from the Labor Department and the nation's trade balance in July from the Commerce Department. Also, the Institute for Supply Management releases the August services sector index, an update on nonmanufacturing business such as retailing and restaurants. Earnings: Port Washington chemicals distributor Aceto, home builder Hovnanian Enterprises.

FRIDAY: In addition to the employment report, the Labor Department releases workers' hourly earnings in August.