The pace of China’s economic expansion unexpectedly cooled further last month after a lackluster July, as factory output, investment and retail sales all slowed. Industrial output rose 6.0 percent from a year earlier in August, versus a median projection of 6.6 percent and July’s 6.4 percent. That’s the slowest pace this year.

In the US session CPI and Unemployment Claims data was published. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.4 percent in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 1.9 percent. Increases in the indexes for gasoline and  shelter accounted for nearly all of the seasonally adjusted increase in the all items index. The energy index rose 2.8 percent in August as the gasoline index increased 6.3 percent. The shelter index rose 0.5 percent in August with the rent index up 0.4 percent. The food index rose slightly in August, with the index for food away from home increasing and the food at home index declining.

Separate report on Unemployment Claims showed that in the week ending September 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 284,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 298,000. The 4-week moving average was 263,250, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 250,250. This is the highest level for this average since August 13, 2016 when it was 263,250. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma impacted this week's initial claims.

There will be no major data releases from Australia tomorrow. In the US session Retail Sales, Industrial Production and Consumer Sentiment figures will be published. Analyst anticipate 0.1% increase in Retail Sales and Industrial Production, while Consumer Sentiment should decline to 95.1.

Figures to watch:

Retail Sales (Friday 14:30)

Industrial Production (Friday 15:15)

Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment (Friday 16:00)