Retail Sales, Producer Price Index to Be Released

New economic data to be released this week include retail sales and the producer price index, both widely watched as important indicators of the state of consumer spending and inflation during September. Higher petroleum prices are expected to influence the reports, both of which are set for release Friday. The producer price index fell 0.2% during August, while retail sales rose 0.2% then. “Higher oil prices and higher gasoline prices are going to inflate the retail sales numbers,” said Cynthia Latta, an economist at Standard & Poor’s DRI in Lexington, Mass. “Consumer spending is definitely moderating. And outside of oil, there’s not much inflation out there.”