U.S. retail sales expanded

Retail sales in the U.S increased by 0.5 percent last December instead of the expected 0.2 percent – the Ministry of Commerce announced.

The bad news is that the atmosphere has deteriorated further in the manufacturing sector. The New York Fed manufacturing index decreased by 0.5 points, from -7.3 points to -7.8 points instead of an expected increase. (portfolio.hu)