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.
From Eurozone, tomorrow, Industrial Production figures will be released. Analysts are anticipating 0.2% growth. 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:
Industrial Production (Friday 11:00)
PPI (Friday 14:30)
Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment (Friday 15:55)
