Retail Sales Slow, Jobless Claims Drop
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WASHINGTON -- Retail sales in August posted the weakest showing in two months as worried consumers curbed their spending habits.
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The number of U.S. workers filing for first-time jobless benefits fell sharply last week, government data showed on Thursday, but the decline was smaller than expected, and economists say layoffs remained elevated because of winter storms.
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WASHINGTON - Reports on retail sales and producer prices show US economic growth has cooled since its third-quarter spurt, while inflation slows.
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A weakening U.S. housing market and  a steady flow of Americans seeking jobless benefits will help  lead to a slowed economy over the coming months, data released  on Thursday showed.
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U.S. chain store retail sales slipped   in the latest week while overall demand compared with one year   ago remained robust, a retail report said on Tuesday.
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Retail sales, hurt by a big drop in auto purchases, slowed at the start of the year and business inventories turned in the poorest showing in 17 months.
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Major retailers on Thursday reported largely disappointing sales for the critical December shopping season, while a separate report showed new claims for jobless benefits fell unexpectedly, somewhat easing concerns of a weakening job market.
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Consumers, battered by harsh economic crosswinds, spent less in December than at any time in the past 15 months while applications for unemployment benefits soared last week, two more signs the economy is weakening.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 14  â Retail sales, hurt by a big drop in autos, slowed at the start of the year while business inventories had their poorest showing in 17 months.
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US retail chains reported May sales gains as warmer weather helped them rebound from a dismal April, but results were weaker than a year ago, signaling to some that rising gas prices and a slowing housing market are taking their toll.
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U.S. stocks opened lower on Thursday,  with investors taking a breather after Wednesday's rally amid  lackluster monthly sales figures from retailers and  higher-than-expected jobless claims.
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Wal-Mart Stores Inc. unsettled the retail industry Thursday, reporting a sales decline for the first time in 10 years and warning that its holiday sales would be disappointing. The discounter's news, coupled with a jump in unemployment benefit claims, raised concerns about the strength of the retailing sector at a critical time of the year.
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U.S. retail sales fell unexpectedly in December to close out the weakest year at the cash register since 2002, data showed on Tuesday, the strongest signal yet that the economy may be sliding into recession under the weight of a housing and credit crisis.
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Chain store retail sales continue to  fall during the week following the Thanksgiving holiday, a  retail report said on Tuesday.
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U.S. shoppers came out in droves in  November, but warm and wet weather, combined with steep holiday  discounts, prompted less-than-stellar sales at many chains,  retailers said on Thursday.
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U.S. chain store sales fell in the latest week mostly because the imperfect nature of adjusting for seasonality more so than consumers lack of shopping, a report said on Tuesday.
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Retail sales are expected to rise at the slowest pace in six years as shoppers worry about a slumping housing market and slower job growth, according to the world's largest retail trade organization.