The Producer Price Index for April was 0.5%, in line with expectations, while retail sales grew by only 0.1%, less than the expected rate of 0.5%.
But imports surged way beyond expectations and retail sales handily beat forecasts, pointing to buoyant domestic demand.
September's industrial production beat expectations narrowly; retail sales beat them comfortably.Many investors have complained that the government's response to China's slowdown has been tardy and timid.
Lloyd Khaner: For starters, expectations for retail sales were low and for good reason.
Nonetheless, expectations for retail in 2008 are gloomy across the board: consumers are cutting back on spending, the global economy is heading for a downturn and companies from Next to DSG International are predicting a tough year ahead.
"I truly believe this CD will supersede anyone's expectations in retail".
Stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, Macy's and Limited Brands (the parent company of Victoria's Secret) overwhelmed expectations for consumer retail spending this year with better than expected same-store sales in September.
They must understand their market position, who their competitors are and really get to grips with their key numbers (including margins, costs, profit expectations and recommended retail price).
RBS reduced its price target from 420p to 410p, saying: Future expectations for global retail banking were overshadowed by comments on the group's second quarter performance, particularly for revenue in Barclays Capital, which missed market expectations for the fourth quarter in a row.
But as far as he is concerned, if the diminishing of his family's business can be pinned to a certain shift in retail expectations, yuppies -- or whatever the right term is for the region's surplus of young, moneyed transplants -- are the ones who caused it.
