(MONEY Magazine) – July

25 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SURVEY. Consumers remained optimistic through the volatile spring. Will the buoyant mood continue?

28 SECOND-QUARTER GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT. Steve Slifer, chief U.S. economic analyst at Lehman Bros., believes that if the economy's growth slows from 6% a year to 4%, the Fed may give us a rest from interest-rate hikes.

29 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION opens in Philadelphia. Beforehand, Texas Gov. George W. Bush had already raised some $85.7 million.

August

14 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION opens in L.A. Beforehand, Vice President Al Gore had raised some $47.6 million.

--JUDY FELDMAN