US economy expanded by 3.5% in the third quarter of 2018, marking the fastest back-to-back periods of growth since 2014. Though the consumer spending rose, there are concern about its consistency going ahead as there was the slowdown in business spending in spite of 2017 corporate tax cuts. Besides, as per separate report growth in consumer durables fell for a second straight month in September. In the week ended October 20, the first time jobless benefits rose 5k to 215k. A four-week moving average of initial claims was unchanged at 211.75k. For the week ended October 13, continuing claims dropped -5k to 1.67 mn, lowest since August 4, 1973 while the four-week moving average of continuing claims dropped -6.75k to 1.65 mn, lowest since August 11, 1973.