All eyes on the job market( from cnn)

By Alexandra Twin, senior writerFebruary 28, 2010: 10:45 AM ET
All eyes on the job market

Monday: The Commerce Department releases its January personal income and spending reports before the start of trading. Income is expected to have risen 0.4% after climbing 0.4% in the previous month. Spending is expected to have increased 0.4% after gaining 0.2% in the previous month.

The PCE deflator, the report's inflation component, is expected to have risen 0.1% after advancing 0.1% in the previous month.

Construction spending, due out after the start of trading, is expected to have fallen 0.6% in January after decreasing 1.2% in the previous month.

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) releases its manufacturing index after the start of trading. The ISM index is expected to have fallen to 58 in February from 58.4 in January, which would still indicate an expansion in the sector.

Tuesday: February auto and truck sales are due through the afternoon, with Toyota Motor expected to take a hit.

The troubled automaker's executives were on Capitol Hill last week to discuss safety issues related to the recall of over 8 million vehicles. Between the recalls and the hit to its reputation, Toyota is expected to report that market share fell to a five-year low. Sales are expected to have fallen 10% from a year ago.

However, other companies are expected to see better results, with General Motors and Ford Motor (F, Fortune 500) among the companies expected to post sales increases from a year ago.

Wednesday: The ISM services sector index for February is expected to have risen to 51 from 50.5 in January, according to forecasts, a signal of further expansion in the sector.

The weekly oil inventories report is due in the morning and the Federal Reserve's "beige book" reading on the economy is due in the afternoon.

Thursday: January factory orders, from the Commerce Department, are expected to have risen 1.2% after increasing 1% in December.

The January pending home sales index is expected to have risen 1.7% after growing 1% in December.

The nation's retailers will be releasing February sales throughout the morning.

Friday: The Friday jobs report is the main event of the day