Beazer Homes Inc. (BZH)

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US DATA WEEK AHEAD: Tax Credit Seen As Lift To Home Sales


By Kathleen Madigan
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--The economic reports next week are back-loaded, giving
investors time early in the week to see how the SEC's fraud case against
Goldman Sachs plays out further in the financial markets.

A new data point for the labor markets will be reported Thursday when the
Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims. Next week's report will be of
particular interest because the new data will cover the survey week included in
the government's employment report for April.

The median forecast of economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires Friday
expect that jobless claims totaled 460,000 in the April 17 week, down from the
unexpectedly high reading of 484,000 in the prior week.

Also arriving Thursday will be the National Association of Realtors' report
on existing home sales. The median forecast is for resales increasing to an
annual rate of 5.25 million in March, up from 5.06 million in February. House
hunters are rushing to take advantage of the expanded tax credit, set to expire
at the end of April.

New home sales, scheduled for release Friday, are projected to have increased
6.5% to a 328,000 pace in March.

Another look at March inflation will come on Thursday with the release of the
producer price index. The total PPI is projected to rise 0.3% in March, while
the core index that excludes food and energy is expected to be up 0.1%.

DATE TIME RELEASE PERIOD CONSENSUS PREVIOUS
(ET)
Monday 1000 Leading Index Mar +1.1% +0.1%
Thursday 0830 Jobless Claims Apr 17 460K 484K
0830 Producer Price Index Mar +0.3% -0.6%
--ex food & energy +0.1% +0.1%
1000 Existing Home Sales Mar 5.25mln 5.06mln
--percent change +3.8% -0.6%
Friday 0830 Durable Goods Orders Mar +0.3% +0.9%
1000 New Home Sales Mar 328K 308K
--percent change +6.5% -2.2%


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


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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

04-16-10 1534ET

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15:34 041610