The eurozone reported that GDP shrank in the second quarter, but at just 0.2%, the contraction was less severe than economists had anticipated. Growth in Germany and France was stronger than expected and helped to offset the recessionary economies of Spain and Italy. Markets in Europe and Asia reacted to the report by moving upward, and Dow Jones Industrial Average
Home Depot
Fellow Dow retailer Wal-Mart
The ever-important retail sales report showed 0.8% growth in July -- the first improvement in four months and a further sign of an improving economy after July's promising employment report. That figure beat analyst estimates of just 0.2% and was strong across all segments.
Producer Price Index data also came out today, with growth of 0.3% on expectations of 0.2%, and the business inventories report should be delivered at 10 a.m. EDT, with a 0.2% increase expected there as well.
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