Economists and anxious investors will be scrutinizing a series of economic barometers that include unemployment claims, retail sales and consumer confidence numbers.
By Alana Semuels and Nathaniel Popper, Los Angeles Times
August 16, 2011
Reporting from Los Angeles and New York—
The stock market's wild ride last week showed just how jittery investors are about the threat of another recession.
A series of economic reports coming out in the days and weeks ahead could calm their fears — or confirm their worst suspicions. Economists and investors alike will scrutinize unemployment claims, retail sales and consumer confidence numbers like a doctor watching an ailing patient's vital signs.
On tap for Tuesday: government reports on housing starts and industrial production for July, and second-quarter earnings from retail bellwether Walmart Stores Inc. And later this month, Wall Street will be closely focused on consumer confidence, manufacturing activity and an updated estimate of gross domestic product for the second quarter.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-economy-roadmap-20110816,0,4823255.story
