Quick Overview

• The U.S. Commerce Department said that March retail sales were up 0.6%. Excluding autos, sales were up 0.4%. February’s, retail sales were changed higher, from a 1.4% decline to a 0.8% decline.
  

• The U.S. Commerce Department said that business sales were down 0.6%

• U.S. Jobless claims were up 12,000 last week to 313,000, more than expected.
  

• The University of Michigan's April consumer sentiment index increased from 88.9 to 89 -- better than expected.
  

• Canada's manufacturing shipments were C$50.7 billion in Feb -- down 2.2% form Jan.
  

• Retail sales in New Zealand were up 1.9% in Feb. -- Stronger than expected.
  

• Japanese corporate bankruptcies fell in the past business year, marking the fourth straight year of decline and their lowest level in a decade, helped by an improving economy and greater financial aid for small firms.
  

• Japan's government stuck to its view the economy is recovering in a monthly report on Friday, but said it has yet to emerge from price deflation.
  

• A possible new case of mad cow disease in Canada upset the U.S. cattle markets on Thursday
  

• The World Trade Organization ruled again that U.S. duties on Canadian lumber are in violation of international trade rules.
  

• Goldfields Minerals Survey said that world gold mine production increased 2% in 2005 and they are expecting a 4% increase in 2006.
  
  

• The U.S. Department of Energy said that underground supplies of natural gas were up 19 billion cubic feet at 1.714 trillion cubic feet