In the US session Retail Sales and Unemployment Claims data was released. U.S. retail and food services sales for November, adjusted for seasonal variation were $449.3 billion, an increase of 0.7% from the previous month, and 5.1% above November 2013. It was also much better than expected raise by 0.1%. Total sales for the September through November 2014 period were up 4.7% from the same period a year ago. Core Retail Sales were up by 0.5%. Auto and other motor vehicle dealers were up 9.5% from November 2013 and nonstore retailers were up 8.7% from last year.
Separate report on Unemployment Claims showed that in the week ending December 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 294,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 297,000. Analysts were predicting a smaller decrease to 297,000 The 4-week moving average was 299,250, an increase of 250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 299,000.
Friday will bring only minor importance Construction Output and CB Leading Index figures. Construction Output should raise by 0.8%, while analysts are hoping for a better reading in CB Leading Index this month. In the US session, PPI and Consumer Sentiment data is scheduled for a release. PPI should decrease by 0.1%, while Core PPI is expected to raise by 0.1%. Consumer Sentiment is forecasted to incline to 89.6.
Figures to watch:
PPI (Friday 14:30)
Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment (Friday 15:55)
Last modified on Thursday, 11 December 2014
