...current quarter for the forecast of 2 percent growth to become a reality. With less than a week to go, reports on retail sales activity have been generally upbeat, in sharp contrast to the dismal Christmas performance a year ago. The country's...

...percent, to 2,156.78, beating the previous session's 2005 high. Positive inflation data, reports of strong retail sales activity and a sharp dropoff in oil prices combined to give Wall Street a very strong week. The S&P climbed 1.33 percent...

...very spotty with increased activity at auto and steel plants but continued weakness in high-tech industries. Retail sales activity was mixed during August with seven of the 12 districts reporting strong sales of home furnishings and appliances...