Como se combate o populismo? "Com eleições", responde Fukuyama

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10:01am 10/25/05 HURRICANES BOOSTED SEPT. HOME SALES -- NAR
10:01am 10/25/05 U.S. SEPT. MEDIAN HOME PRICE UP 13.4% YEAR-OVER-YEAR
10:00am 10/25/05 U.S. SEPT. EXISTING HOME INVENTORIES UP 0.3%
10:00am 10/25/05 U.S. SEPT. EXISTING HOME SALES FLAT AT 7.28 MILLLION PACE

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)-- Sales of U.S. existing homes were unchanged in September at a 7.28 million seasonally adjusted annual rate, the second highest rate ever, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday.
Sales would have been weaker without the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which prompted heavy buying outside damaged regions as firms rushed to relocate key employees, said David Lereah, chief economist for the real estate group.
Median sales prices increased 13.4% versus a year ago to $212,000. Inventories of homes for sale increased 0.3% to 2.85 million, a 4.7-month supply.


9:59am 10/25/05 WEAK CONFIDENCE MAY IMPACT HOLIDAY SALES - CONFERENCE BOARD
9:59am 10/25/05 U.S. OCT. CONFIDENCE DROP UNEXPECTED BY ECONOMISTS
9:59am 10/25/05 U.S. OCT. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE FALLS TO 85.0 VS REV 87.5 SEPT

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. consumer confidence failed to rebound in October after a sharp drop in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Conference Board said Tuesday.
The consumer confidence index fell to 85.0 in October from a revised 87.5 in September.
Confidence had fallen from 105.5 in August after Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, sending gasoline prices skyrocketing.
Economists expected the index to improve to 88.2 in October from the initial estimate of 86.6 in September as gas prices fell from high levels and the impact of the storms became clearer.
But the present situation index fell to 108.2 from 110.4, and the expectations index slipped to 69.5 from 72.3.
Weak confidence could hurt holiday sales, the Conference Board said, unless retailers slash prices to lure customers to stores.