THE WEEK AHEAD

Some of the major business and economic events scheduled for this week:

TODAY

* Columbus Day. Many banks and schools closed. Financial markets open.

WEDNESDAY

* Labor Department releases September consumer price index data.

THURSDAY

* Commerce Department releases statistics for September housing starts.

* Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims figures.

* Federal Reserve Board releases September industrial production data.

* Commerce Department releases figures for August business inventories.

FRIDAY

* Commerce Department releases August international trade figures.