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A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming next week.
Housing update
The Commerce Department on Wednesday reports on how many new apartments and single-family homes builders broke ground on in January.
In December, housing starts jumped to nearly 1.5 million, a nearly 16% increase over November's paltry 1.3 million. Despite the surge, December housing starts were down 4.4% from a year ago.
Housing starts, monthly, seasonally adjusted annual rate:
Aug.: 1,379,000
Sept.: 1,355,000
Oct.: 1,344,000
Nov.: 1,294,000
Dec.: 1,499,000
Jan. (est.): 1,390,000
Source: FactSet
Fed insight
Also Wednesday, the Federal Reserve releases minutes from its most recent policy meeting.
At that meeting in late January, the U.S. central bank left its benchmark interest rate alone for the first time since summer. Fed officials had previously forecast up to four rate cuts this year, but have since cut that outlook to two. A solid labor market, sticky inflation and uncertainty over Trump administration policies — particularly tariffs — has led Fed officials to shift to a more cautious policy stance.
Walmart reports
The nation's largest retailer on Thursday reports its most recent financial results, which will include the all-important holiday shopping season.
Following a strong quarter leading up to the holidays, Wall Street analysts are anticipating Arkansas-based Walmart to post fourth-quarter earnings of 65 cents per share on $180 billion in sales. Walmart's sales have been boosted in recent years as inflation-weary shoppers seek out lower prices. Its shares are up 85% in the past year.
