Economic news was mixed. Oil fell and inflation worries subsided, yet economic indicators were not overly positive.

• September’s CPI fell 0.5% (for the first time ever this year)
• September’s PPI fell 1.4% (but posted 0.6% incline if food and energy are excluded)
• The September Conference Board index of leading economic indicators rose 0.1% in September (below estimates)
• September’s residential construction rose 5.9%, but permits for new housing falling 6.4% for the month. Compared with Sept. 2005, new housing starts are down almost 18%.
• September’s industrial production fell 0.6%, the first decline since January

References: Vanguard, Briefing.com