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A larger-than-forecast decline in U.S. new- home construction reflected the weakest pace of building in the South since October 2015, showing the fallout from hurricanes Harvey and Irma, according to government figures Oct. 18.

A rebound in homebuilders’ confidence to a five-month high indicates concern over fallout from major hurricanes has been alleviated, according to data Oct. 17 from the National Association of 91ÊÓƵ Builders/Wells Fargo.

Even as reclaimed parking spaces fuel a downtown building boom, autonomous vehicles will encourage builders to push deeper into the exurban fringe, confident that homebuyers will tolerate longer commutes now that they don’t have to drive, according to the report, sponsored by a unit of Capital One Financial Corp.

U.S. factory production rose last month for the first time since June, a sign the industry is starting to regain its footing after the damage from hurricanes Harvey and Irma, Federal Reserve data showed Oct. 17.<

U.S. consumer sentiment unexpectedly surged to a 13-year high as Americans’ perceptions of the economy and their own finances rebounded following several major hurricanes, a University of Michigan survey showed Oct. 13.

U.S. inflation excluding food and fuel was below estimates for the sixth time in seven months, even as a hurricane-driven spike in energy prices boosted the overall cost of living by the most since January, a Labor Department report showed Oct. 13.

U.S. retail sales jumped last month by the most in more than two years as motor vehicles lost to hurricanes were quickly replaced and higher prices lifted receipts at gasoline stations, Commerce Department figures showed Oct. 13.

The number of workers on U.S. payrolls declined last month for the first time since 2010, reflecting major disruptions from hurricanes Harvey and Irma, Labor Department figures showed Oct. 6. The jobless rate fell to a new 16-year-low while wage gains accelerated.

Americans’ confidence suffered its biggest weekly setback in more than a year as optimism about personal finances slumped, Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index figures showed Oct. 5.

U.S. filings for unemployment benefits fell last week as the impact of hurricanes Harvey and Irma faded in several states, Labor Department figures showed Oct. 5.