The release of a slew of economic data and the minutes of Federal Reserve's FOMC meeting are ahead this Wednesday.
E-commerce strategists are optimistic about what sales thus far indicate about the imminent holiday sales rush.
Industrial production data from the UK beat forecasts while the 17-nation euro zone bloc saw a decline in retail sales.
Commodity markets, manufacturing, and retail sales all show signs of strength despite the shutdown.
GM, Ford and Chrysler sales last month increased at a nearly double-digit rate, which suggests a strong 2013 performance.
Despite the slip in forecast for November, GfK said a previous estimate on consumer spending for all of 2013 remains steady.
Retail sales in U.K. rebounded, aided by strong consumer spending, underscoring signs of sustained economic recovery in the country.
Android phones are catching up, however, with retail sales processed on Android devices growing about 20% faster.
The ongoing government shutdown has disrupted the normal data flow. Economists, along with the markets and the Fed, are flying blind when it comes to tracking the economy.
Depressed retail sales in Greece reveal more “recessionary signals” from the debt-ridden economy, according to one Greek analysis site.
Analysts had expected retail sales to rise by 0.4% in August.
Holiday retail traffic this year in the U.S. is expected to be lower than last year’s.
China’s industrial production in August rose 10.4 percent, while retail sales rose 13.4 percent indicating resilient growth.
Expect a big upward revision in Japan’s Q2 GDP, more evidence of growth in China and stagflation signs in India.
General Motors is making nearly $8 billion in annual profit, but it still owes America about $16 billion. What gives?
More August data due over this weekend will likely show that China may have avoided a sharp slowdown.
The Fed said the U.S. economy continued to grow at a modest/moderate pace in July and August, as it has for much of 2013.
If total U.S. auto sales estimates are accurate, then the Detroit 3 sold 45 percent of all light passenger vehicles last month.
The holiday-shortened week will be capped by the all-important U.S. employment report on Friday.
Japan’s ultra-easy monetary policy successfully drove down the yen. But a weaker yen is a double-edged sword.
In the U.S., revised Q2 GDP should indicate steady momentum.
American car buyers are careening toward the strongest auto sales cycle since before the Great Recession.