RETAIL SALES

Windows 8, the latest OS from Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), the No. 1 software company, isn't a barnburner, market researcher NPD Group determined.

Hurricane Sandy, winter storm hit November retail sales. Online sales and layaway buys will register next month.

Japan’s retail sales fell in October compared to those in the same month last year, indicating a faltering consumer spending which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity.

U.S. online retail spending on Black Friday surpassed the $1 billion milestone for the first time, according to researcher comScore Inc.

Black Friday was a good-news, bad-news kind of day for U.S. retailers, based on estimates released by researcher ShopperTrak.

It was the first contraction in three months. But don't blame the weather, unless you mean the climate in Washington.

The U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open Wednesday ahead of the Commerce Department's retail sales report.

Data releases this week are expected to show some of the economic impact caused by Sandy.

U.S. retail sales for October will likely be down, especially factoring in car and gas purchases. Consider it the Hurricane Sandy effect.

Some skeptics have questioned whether the upbeat reading on China's economic activity can be believed.

Upcoming October data may offer further evidence that China's economy has bottomed out.

This week, the two largest economies will have political transitions, three central banks will meet, and Greece's parliament is set to vote on key reforms.

Retailers are looking ahead to the effects that Superstorm Sandy may have on consumers in the coming months.

The U.S. employment situation summary Friday will carry the most weight, because it will be the last jobs report before Election Day.

Even a deep recession in Europe wouldn't be sufficient to snuff out the U.S. recovery completely.

The U.S. economy probably expanded at a slightly faster pace in Q3, but a sustained acceleration in GDP growth is unlikely.

Asian stock markets advanced Thursday as concerns over a sharper slowdown in the world's second largest economy eased after China reported the third quarter economic activity data in line with expectations.

Crude oil prices advanced slightly and hovered above $92 a barrel in Asia Thursday as better-than-expected economic reports from the U.S. and China eased concerns over the global growth slowdown.

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will cover both domestic and foreign policies during the second U.S. presidential debate Tuesday.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a lower open Monday after the rally seen last week following the announcement of the Federal Reserve's plan to buy mortgage securities.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open Friday as investors kept up a buoyant mood following the announcement of quantitative easing measures by the Federal Reserve, which is expected to boost economic growth.