The Business Week Ahead...

The prior week's rush of key economic indicators that was capped by the April employment report should not take away too much from the current week's calendar where the focus will be inflation data and also retail sales. But the week won't get running until Thursday with import & export prices followed on Friday by producer prices. Both are expected to get a lift from higher oil prices, excluding which, however, the outlook is for continued price weakness. Higher gasoline prices, along with a snapback for vehicle sales, are expected to give Friday's retail sales report a major lift though core prices are also expected to show strength, strength that could revive confidence in the second-quarter outlook.