Economics Week Ahead: Inflation and Retail Sales in the Spotlight

Tuesday

The National Federation of Independent Businesses will release data from its monthly survey that gauges small business optimism. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal expect to see the survey index dip slightly in June. The survey reading of near-term expectations for future trading conditions fell in May to its lowest level on record.

Wednesday

The US Consumer Price Index for June will provide a key inflation reading ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting on July 26-27. Economists surveyed estimated that inflation rose in June, both from the previous month and from June last year. The CPI rose 8.6% in the year to May, the fastest pace in more than four decades.