Business week ahead, Sept. 18-22
A job fair in Brookhaven Town in June. The state Labor Department releases unemployment rates for Long Island on Tuesday. Credit: Raychel Brightman
KEY EVENT: Unemployment update. The Long Island unemployment rate has been ticking higher this year, and in July stood at 4.5 percent, the second highest for any month since February 2016. Did this trend continue into the dog days of summer? The answer comes Tuesday when the state Labor Department releases unemployment rates for Nassau, Suffolk and Long Island as a whole.
MONDAY: The National Association of Home Builders posts its September housing market survey, a gauge of homebuilders’ optimism in the economy. Earnings: Furniture maker Steelcase.
TUESDAY: Two August reports: housing starts from the Commerce Department and import and export price from the U.S. Labor Department. Earnings: AutoZone, Bed Bath & Beyond, FedEx.
WEDNESDAY: The Federal Reserve ends a two-day meeting with a statement on the economy. Most economists expect the central bank to keep interest rates steady. After the meeting, Fed chair Janet Yellen holds a news conference. Also, existing home sales in August from the National Association of Realtors. Earnings: furniture maker Herman Miller, General Mills.
THURSDAY: Jobless benefits claims for the week ended Sept. 16 from the U.S. Labor Department. Also, leading economic indicators in August from the Conference Board.
FRIDAY: Earnings from CarMax.
