Builders FirstSource, Inc. (BLDR)

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11:18:17 Today UPDATE:US DATA WEEK AHEAD: New Numbers On Housing Supply, Demand


(Updates forecasts on housing starts and permits, PPI, jobless claims,
existing home sales)

By Kathleen Madigan
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--This week will cover both sides of the housing market:
demand in the form of existing home sales and builder sentiment, and supply
through the report on starts and permits.

The Housing Market Index, scheduled for Monday, covers builders' overview on
sales activity. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires Friday and Monday
expect the index rose to 20 in October, from 19 in September. Increases in
sales activity and buyer traffic through model homes would reflect a
last-minute rush by new buyers to take advantage of the federal tax credit that
expires at the end of November.

On Tuesday, the Commerce Department will report on housing starts and
permits. The median forecast calls for a 2.0% increase in starts, to an annual
rate of 610,000, in September. Building permits probably rose by 2.8% to a
596,000 pace.

Finally, on Friday, The National Association of Realtors is scheduled to
release data on September existing home sales. Resales probably rose to a 5.38
million rate, say economists. As with new homes, existing home sales are being
helped by the federal tax credit.

The producer price index, due for release Tuesday, will offer further
information on inflation. Economists expect that a fallback in energy prices
probably pushed the total PPI down by 0.2% in September following a 1.7% jump
in August. The core PPI, which excludes food and energy, is projected to have
risen 0.1% last month.

The index of leading indicators will be released Thursday. The median
forecast is that the index rose a solid 0.8% in September, on top of a 0.6%
gain in August.

DATE TIME RELEASE PERIOD CONSENSUS PREVIOUS
(EDT)

Monday 1300 Housing Market Index Oct 20 19
Tuesday 0830 Housing Starts Sep 610K 598K
--percent change +2.0% +1.5%
0830 Building Permits Sep 596K 580K
--percent change +2.8% +2.8%
0830 Producer Price Index Sep -0.2% +1.7%
0830 --ex food and energy Sep +0.1% +0.2%
Thursday 0830 Initial Jobless Claims Oct 17 518K 514K
1000 Leading Indicators Sep +0.8% +0.6%
Friday 1000 Existing Home Sales Sep 5.38 5.10M
--percent change +5.5% -2.7%


-By Kathleen Madigan, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2466;
[e-mail]


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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-19-09 1118ET

Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

11:18 101909