RETAIL SALES

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.

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell in March, snapping two months of increases, as motor vehicle and electronic good purchases declined, according to a government report on Tuesday that indicated subdued consumer spending amid rising unemployment.

Oil erased an earlier gain to fall below $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 fell in March, snapping two months of increases, a government report showed on Tuesday, indicating the recession was far from hitting bottom as mounting unemployment depress consumer spending.

Stocks opened lower on Tuesday after data showed retail sales and producer prices came in worse than expected in March, offsetting earnings from Johnson & Johnson.

Confidence among U.S. small businesses was stuck at 35-year lows in March, with employers stepping up layoffs even as the recession-hit economy shows some signs of improving, according to a survey.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open after data showed retail sales and producer prices came in worse than expected in March, offsetting earnings from Johnson & Johnson and Goldman Sachs.

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell in March, snapping two months of increases, as motor vehicle and electronic good purchases declined, according to a government report on Tuesday that indicated subdued consumer spending amid rising unemployment.