NEW YORK (AP) — Quarterly financial updates from a wide range of major U.S. corporations, including technology companies and airlines, will dominate the calendar this week. But there will also be new data on jobs and the mood of American consumers who feel overburdened by rising prices on everything from beef to a gallon of gas.
Inflation has also weighed on U.S. corporations, as shown in data last week on producer prices and import prices, both of which measure rising costs before they hit the consumer.
Here's a look at some of the key reports coming in the week ahead.
Investors will get a broad view of how companies are handling the persistent pressure of inflation through the lens of toy sales, streaming entertainment viewership, computer chips and airline bookings.
Wall Street expects another big surge in profits from companies in the S&P 500 index. Overall, analysts polled by FactSet expect profit growth of just under 30%, with the energy industry leading the way, followed by the tech sector.
On Tuesday, General Motors reports quarterly results. Industry analysts believe profits surged. Toymaker Hasbro and streaming entertainment giant Netflix also report Tuesday. Wall Street expects a slimmer profit from United Airlines Holdings on Wednesday. Airlines have raised fares, but it's difficult to keep pace with rising fuel costs, as well as labor costs and other inflationary pressures.
Companies with ties to artificial intelligence also report quarterly earnings. Wall Street expects slimmer profits for Tesla, while Facebook owner Meta and IBM are expected to report profit growth. Investors want to know whether all the big AI investments are translating into future growth and whether a major run-up in stock values is justified.
The U.S. releases its September report on new home construction Tuesday. The housing starts report is expected to show that homebuilding edged higher after two months of declines.
The housing sector has been in a slump since 2022, and high mortgage rates have become a difficult hurdle for homebuyers. So have rising construction costs. Building materials have grown much more expensive, as has labor, as the Trump administration continues an aggressive deportation campaign.
Homebuilders have lagged the broader market. KB Home and Lennar are down more than 20% in 2026, compared with a 14% rise in the S&P 500.
The University of Michigan releases one final update for its October sentiment survey, which has been worsening. That tracks with other consumer confidence surveys showing that households are increasingly worried about inflation's impact on their budgets and ability to plan for the future.
While American consumers are clearly feeling glum, they continue to spend. Part of the reason is simply that prices are higher. For example, according to data released last week, retail sales increased 0.8% in September, but if sales at gas stations are removed, they rose only 0.2%.
What is adding to consumer frustration is that those higher gas prices appear to be seeping into other parts of the economy. Wholesale food prices jumped 1.2% from August to September. The data indicated that rising fuel prices, particularly for diesel used by long-haul trucks and freight trains, are pushing up the cost of shipping and warehousing goods.
The per-gallon price for the various grades of gasoline available is displayed elecronically on a pump at a Buc-ee's station Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, in Johnstown, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Shoppers shop at a grocery store in Glenview, Ill., Wednesday, October. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
SYDNEY (AP) — The high-tempo, breadth-of-the-field game New Zealand hoped to produce in a losing effort in South Africa came to life in Australia on Saturday when the All Blacks beat the Wallabies 43-21 to sweep the Bledisloe Cup rugby series 2-0.
After the first 12 minutes were frenetic but scoreless, New Zealand scored six tries and conceded one to lead 36-7 by halftime and to take the match away from Australia.
New Zealand, which lost the test series in South Africa 3-1, also scored the first try of the second half but the Wallabies fought back strongly and created a momentum shift which saw them score two tries to one after the break.
“The way we came out in that first half was great,” All Blacks captain Codie Taylor said. "It was a real challenge for us to make sure we backed up a really good performance last week.
“I thought we were awesome in that first 40, backing ourselves and playing what was in front, but that second 40 was a bit different.”
In the first half, scrumhalf Cam Roigard conducted the All Blacks' superbly, switching the attack left and right to twist and bend the Wallabies' defense while Damian McKenzie picked out runners with short passes to create line breaks.
When the line was broken, the New Zealand support game kicked in with ruthless efficiency and multiple passes led to tries that dizzied defenders. Hooker Codie Taylor and backrowers Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi were strong runners with the ball and fullback Beauden Barrett regularly inserted himself into the backline and had two tries by halftime.
Lakai and Rieko Ioane also scored first-half tries and lock Fabian Holland put in a huge shift with 21 tackles.
The Wallabies' attacking efforts generally were enveloped in swarming All Blacks defense or undone by errors of handling or passing. But they scored tries through lock Jeremy Williams in the first half and fullback Tom Wright and Filipo Daugunu in the second.
Williams made a detour to the sin-bin shortly after his try and the All Blacks exploited the numerical advantage when Sititi scored from the back of a dominant scrum.
Barrett completed his double with an intercept try on the tick of halftime and winger Josh Moorby who scored New Zealand's first try, also scored the first try of the second half after only two minutes, making the score 43-7.
New Zealand then seemed on the verge of consecutive 50-point scorelines against Australia after winning the first test 50-19 in Auckland last weekend. But there was significant shift in the second half.
The All Blacks had been forced to make a late backline change when influential center Jordie Barrett suffered a calf injury short before the match. They then lost Barrett's midfield partner Quinn Tupaea to a failed head injury after only four minutes.
Those setbacks didn't affect the fluency of the All Blacks' attack in the first half but their combination become less easy in the second half as replacements took the field and injuries and fatigue took their toll.
Winger Max Jorgensen again was Australia's best back and his elusive run along the right touch led to Wright's try. Daugunu's length of the field effort completed a 14-7 second half for Australia.
“I'm gutted. When you give a team like the All Blacks a head start it's tough and it's not good enough from this group,” Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said. “We've got to be a lot better.”
The men’s game was part of a four-match day for spectators at the former Olympic stadium in Sydney. In a women’s 15-a-side match, Australia beat Scotland 56-12 as part of the WXV Global Series. The Australian men’s sevens team drew 19-19 with two-time Olympic champions Fiji and the Australian women’s sevens side lost 21-12 to New Zealand.
See AP’s full rugby coverage here
Australia's Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, right, attempts to win a line out against New Zealand during the Bledisloe Cup rugby union test in Sydney, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia's Declan Meredith, left, is tackled by New Zealand's Beaudern Barrett during the Bledisloe Cup rugby union test in Sydney, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
New Zealand's Josh Moorby scores a try against Australia during the Bledisloe Cup rugby union test in Sydney, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
New Zealand All Blacks players react after winning against Australia during their Bledisloe Cup rugby union test in Sydney, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
New Zealand's Rieko Ioane, right, scores a try against Australia's Tom Wright during the Bledisloe Cup rugby union test in Sydney, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
