Quick Overview

• Retail sales increased in April by a seasonally adjusted 0.5%, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Wall Street expected a 0.8% advance. Gas station sales rose by 4.6% in April, the largest since 6.0% in September 2005. Taking out sales at gas stations, demand at all other retailers rose just 0.1%.
  

• The Commerce Department reported business inventories rose more than expected during March, up by 0.7% to $1.324 trillion.
  

• U.S. Jobless claims were down 1,000 last week to 324,000, more than expected.
  

• GDP in the Euro zone increased 0.6% in the first quarter and 2.0% YoY.
  

• Factory production in the U.K. increased 0.7% in March
  

• Australia's unemployment rate increased from 5.0% to 5.1%
  

• New Zealand's unemployment rate increased from 3.6% to 3.9%
  

• The European Biodiesel Board reported the European Union produced 3.2 million tons of biodiesel in 2005 with roughly half coming from Germany. In 2006, production capacity is on track to reach 6.07 million tons.
  

• The U.S. Department of Energy said that underground supplies of natural gas were up 85 billion cubic feet last week to 1.989 trillion cubic feet, up 33% YoY.