Confidence among U.S. consumers rose in October to a seven-year high as gasoline prices dropped and the job market improved.

Orders for durable goods dropped unexpectedly in September, falling for a second month, on waning demand for machinery and computers that signals companies are reluctant to invest in updating equipment.

After years of ending the holiday shopping season with too much merchandise stacked in their warehouses, U.S. retailers face the opposite this year: They may not have enough.

TNT Express NV reported a quarterly loss as restructuring measures and a provision to cover potential costs from an investigation into alleged anti-competitive behavior in France bit into the Dutch logistics company’s earnings.

Contracts to purchase previously owned homes rose less than forecast in September, showing housing will take time to gain momentum.

The average price of regular gasoline at U.S. pumps slid to the lowest level in almost four years, dropping 18.18 cents in the two weeks ended Oct. 24 to $3.076 a gallon, according to Lundberg Survey Inc.

Purchases of new houses in the U.S. rose in September, and revisions showed the magnitude of the unfolding recovery was more modest.

Contract negotiations between West Coast port operators and dockworkers are progressing toward a tentative agreement in November, the head of the Port of Los Angeles said.

Caterpillar Inc., the largest construction equipment maker, raised its full-year earnings forecast and said sales may gain in 2015 on an improvement in global economic growth.

The index of U.S. leading indicators accelerated in September, signaling the world’s largest economy will keep expanding into 2015.