Last Call

With just one month before voters go to the polls, the nation's economic indicators flashed yellow last week. The New York City-based Conference Board reported that consumer confidence fell 2.6 points in September, its third drop in a row. The Commerce Department revealed that its index of leading indicators fell 0.2% in August. And the latest unemployment figures showed a tiny 0.1% improvement, to 7.5%. President Bush proclaimed it "very good news." Labor Secretary Lynn Martin was more precise: "It is good that the news is not awful."

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CREDIT: [TMFONT 1 d #666666 d {Source: U.S. Commerce Dept.}]CAPTION: INDEX OF LEADING INDICATORS

NEW HOME SALES

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CREDIT: [TMFONT 1 d #666666 d {Source: U.S. Labor Dept.}]CAPTION: UNEMPLOYMENT RATE