tonight for the housing market and consumer confidence. first, housing a measurement of prices in 20 cities across the country rose four tenths of a percent in july. that s the sixth straight month of gains for the s&p case- shiller home price index. and consumer s are feeling more optimistic. the conference board s confidence index rose to 70.3 in september, marking its highest level since february. these two groups, consumers and housing, are significant because of their influence over the entire economy. with the improvement in consumer confidence, we think that consumer spending could pick up as we go into next year. especially since the housing market is showing signs of life and moem prices are starting to firm up. but the encouraging data didn t help stock prices today. instead, comments by central bankers in the u.s. and europe weighed on today s trading. the dow lost 101, the nasdaq shed 43, the s&p is down 15. the head of the philadelphia federal reserve question
confidence index rose to 70.3 in september, marking its highest level since february. these two groups, consumers and housing, are significant because of their influence over the entire economy. with the improvement in consumer confidence, we think that consumer spending could pick up as we go into next year. especially since the housing market is showing signs of life and moem prices are starting to firm up. but the encouraging data didn t help stock prices today. instead, comments by central bankers in the u.s. and europe weighed on today s trading. the dow lost 101, the nasdaq shed 43, the s&p is down 15. the head of the philadelphia federal reserve questioned what he called the meager benefits of the fed s latest bond buying program. and a european central bank member said his agency would not help restructure greek government debt. also weighing on stocks today, high anxiety about third-quarter earnings. u.s. corporate profits have outpaced the broader economy since