RETAIL SALES

Economists surveyed by Reuters believe that U.S. retail sales outside the auto sector regained some strength in April, helped by Easter holiday shopping and moderately stronger consumer confidence.

The U.S. government will release the findings on bank stress tests this week, and data expected to show another month of crushing job losses will also test emerging optimism on global economic prospects.

U.S. auto sales fell 34.4 percent in April as the industry held near the lowest levels in nearly 30 years and closed out the month with Chrysler LLC filing for bankruptcy protection.

Volkswagen AG may have overtaken Toyota Motor Co to become the world's top-selling carmaker in the first quarter, thanks to government incentives that fueled demand in VW's major markets.

Volkswagen's global vehicle sales fell by 11.4 percent in the first quarter but its market share gains may have let it overtake Japan's Toyota Motor as the world's top-selling automaker.

Volkswagen AG may have passed Toyota Motor Corp as the world's top selling automaker in the first quarter, helped by robust demand in its main markets, while its Japanese rival suffered sharp declines, partial company data suggests.

Volkswagen AG may have passed Toyota Motor Corp as the world's top selling automaker in the first quarter, helped by robust demand in its main markets, while its Japanese rival suffered sharp declines, partial company data suggests.

Stronger-than-expected results on Thursday from motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc and off-road vehicle maker Polaris Industries Inc raised a glimmer of hope that the buyer pullback bedeviling consumer goods companies may be slowing.

Stocks fell on Tuesday as a surprising drop in retail sales dented hopes the recession was abating and financial shares slid on fears that Goldman Sachs' share offering could prompt others to follow suit.

Hopes of seeing the end to the recession were crushed on Tuesday at the U.S. retail sales saw an unexpected drop of 1.1 percent in March compared to the previous month, the Commerce Department said.

Stocks fell on Tuesday as a surprising drop in retail sales dented hopes the recession was abating and financial shares slid on fears that Goldman Sachs' share offering could prompt others to follow suit.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday the latest figures on housing and consumer spending suggest a rapid contraction in the economy could be easing.

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell 1.1 percent in March after rising for two straight months, government data showed on Tuesday, dimming hopes the 16-month-old recession was close to hitting bottom.

Stocks fell on Tuesday as a surprising drop in retail sales dented hopes that the recession was abating and financial shares slid on fears that a stock offering by Goldman Sachs could prompt others to follow suit.

Oil slipped under $50 a barrel on Tuesday on forecasts for softer 2009 global petroleum demand and for a weekly build in U.S. crude supplies.

Stocks tumbled on Tuesday as an unexpected drop in March retail sales suggested that the economic slump was far from abating and as Goldman Sachs slid sharply after a stock offering.

Stocks extended losses on Tuesday as worries about consumer spending were stoked by an unexpected drop in retail sales and investors sold off financial shares.

Oil erased an earlier gain to trade near $50 a barrel on Tuesday after weak U.S. economic data refocused attention on falling global oil demand and forecasts for rising U.S. supplies.

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell 1.1 percent in March after rising for two straight months, government data showed on Tuesday, dimming hopes the 16-month-old recession was close to hitting bottom.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday the latest figures on housing and consumer spending suggest a rapid contraction in the economy could be easing.

Stocks fell on Tuesday after an unexpected drop in retail sales dampened recent optimism over the state of the U.S. economy.