Economic data out this week includes a pair of inflation measures. On Wednesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the Consumer Price Index for December. Excluding volatile food and energy components, it’s expected to have risen 1.6% year-over-year. The core Producer Price Index for December, out Friday, is predicted to have increased 1.3% from last year.
On Friday, the Census Bureau reports retail-sales data for December the all-important holiday shopping season. Retail sales excluding autos fell 0.9% in November, and they’re expected to have climbed 0.4% last month.
Other economic releases this week include the National Federation of Independent Business’ Small Business Optimism Index for December on Tuesday and the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Survey for January on Friday.
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Last January, more than 170,000 people descended on Las Vegas for CES, the annual gadget fest that celebrates consumer electronics TVs, smartphones, cars, wearables, anything you can plug into a wall or connect to the Web. Attendees from more than 160 countries came to the four-day event as the pandemic was brewing in China. Within weeks, the world changed. In July, the Consumer Technology Association gave in to the inevitable: It took CES 2021 virtual.
And here it comes. This truly weird, totally virtual edition of CES kicks off late Monday afternoon with a keynote by
Verizon Communications ’ CEO Hans Vestberg. More CEOs will follow, from