DISAPPOINTING NEWS FROM THE HOUSING SECTOR LEFT THE MAJOR INDEXES SLIGHTLY DOWN FROM 13 MONTH HIGHS ON WEDNESDAY...

THE DOW FINISHED ELEVEN HUNDRETHS OF A PERCENT DOWN.

THE NASDAQ LOST ABOUT HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION FELL TEN PERCENT IN OCTOBER.

THE NUMBER OF NEW HOME STARTS FELL TO THE LOWEST LEVEL IN SIX MONTHS, AND THAT WAS FAR BELOW EXPECTATIONS.

HOUSING PERMITS ALSO DROPPED IN OCTOBER.

SOME ANALYSTS SAY BUILDERS PUT EVERYTHING ON HOLD LAST MONTH, WAITING TO SEE IF THE TAX CREDIT FOR FIRST-TIME HOME-BUYERS WOULD BE EXTENDED.

IT WAS... THIS MONTH.

TRIPLE A IS PREDICTING AN INCREASE IN THE OVERALL NUMBER OF AMERICANS TRAVELING FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

THE GROUP FORECASTS 38 POINT 4 MILLION OF US WILL TRAVEL FIFTY MILES OR MORE...THAT'S AN INCREASE OF ONE POINT FOUR PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR.

GET READY FOR TRAFFIC JAMS...

TRIPLE A SAYS AUTO TRAVEL WILL MAKE UP FOR THE INCREASE, WITH 33 POINT TWO MILLION AMERICANS DRIVING TO THEIR HOLIDAY DESTINATION THIS YEAR, AN INCREASE OF TWO POINT ONE PERCENT FROM 20-08.

THE STUDY SAYS AIR TRAVEL WILL DECLINE SIX POINT SEVEN PERCENT ...CONTINUING A RECENT TREND.  THANKSGIVING AIR TRAVEL HAS PLUNGED A WHOPPING 62 PERCENT SINCE
20-00.

FOR BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.