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Massive flooding caused by Tropical Storm Harvey along Texas’ refinery-rich coast could have long-standing and far-reaching consequences for the state’s oil and gas industry and the larger U.S. economy.

An increase in U.S. orders for business equipment last month and the biggest gain since February in such sales indicate improving demand at the start of the third quarter, Commerce Department data showed Aug. 25.

An unexpected decline in sales of previously owned U.S. homes last month to the lowest level since August 2016 indicates rising prices and lean inventories are impeding faster growth in the housing market, National Association of Realtors data showed on Aug. 24. The July figure was depressed by weakness in the Midwest and Northeast.

Consumer confidence, including views about the U.S. economy, advanced again last week to a 16-year high, indicating spending will remain solid, according to Bloomberg Consumer Comfort data released Aug. 24.

A slump in motor vehicle production pushed down U.S. factory output unexpectedly in July, Federal Reserve data showed Aug. 17.

A strengthening labor market remains an engine for U.S. growth as the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dropped to the lowest since February, Labor Department data showed Aug. 17.

U.S. housing starts stumbled in July on an abrupt slowdown in apartment construction and a modest decline in single-family homebuilding that shows the industry will do little to spur the economy, Commerce Department data showed Aug. 16.

Sentiment among American homebuilders unexpectedly increased to a three-month high as builders saw greater prospects for industry demand despite elevated material costs and shortages of labor and lots, according to data Aug. 15 from the National Association of °®¶¹´«Ã½ Builders/Wells Fargo.

U.S. retail sales advanced in July by the most this year, with widespread gains from department stores to building materials outlets that signal a robust start to consumer spending in the third quarter, according to Commerce Department figures released Aug. 15.

Americans last week registered their strongest optimism in 16 years on more upbeat views about the state of the economy, their personal finances and the buying atmosphere, according to Bloomberg News Consumer Comfort data released Aug. 10