The Business Week Ahead

One week's load of economic data will be packed into Thursday and led by the retail sales report where only unusual strength would raise the chances for a rate hike at the September 21 and 22 FOMC meeting. Factory data are also Thursday's highlights led by the Empire State and Philly Fed early in the morning, two reports that have been weak, and followed later that morning by industrial production which in contrast has been showing recent strength. Consumer prices, the last make-or-break report for the FOMC, will be posted Friday as will consumer sentiment.