Retail sales key to U.S. economic recovery
Consumers spending at healthy clip, but at expense of savings
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — If the U.S. economy is to continue to chug along, consumers will have to take the lead.

The retail-sales report for January, which tops a busy week of data, will show whether consumers are still spending at elevated levels. Higher spending in the late stages of last year helped boost growth entering 2012 and gave fresh hope that the economy has turned a corner.

The closely followed retail report will be issued Tuesday morning. Also on the docket are reports on manufacturing, home construction and inflation. In addition, the Federal Reserve will release details of its last big meeting to discuss the economy.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/retail-sales...atest_news