Other economic news this week:

* President Clinton is likely to report the government budget balance for fiscal 1999, which ended Sept. 30. The report is likely to show that the United States posted its second consecutive annual budget surplus, the first back-to-back surpluses since President Eisenhower occupied the White House in the 1950s.

* In its report this week, the government will issue benchmark revisions of the gross domestic product, which will include computer software expenses as part of business investment. That may “add 0.5% per year to the growth estimates of the last few years,” said Scott Brown, an economist at Raymond James & Associates in St. Petersburg, Fla.

* Tuesday, New York-based research group the Conference Board will release its October consumer confidence index. The index probably fell to 132.6 this month from 134.2 in September. That’s still close to a 30-year high of 139 reached in June.

* Wednesday, the Commerce Department will probably report that September durable goods orders fell 0.4% following a 0.9% gain in August.

* Friday, the National Assn. of Purchasing Management-Chicago will probably report that its monthly index of regional manufacturing rose to 56.3 in October from 53.8 in September. Index readings above 50 mean the number of manufacturers who said business improved was greater than the number of those saying it deteriorated.

* Friday, The University of Michigan will release its consumer sentiment index for October, which probably slipped to 104.9 from 105.3 in September.