* Germany, France report 2nd-quarter GDP growth * U.S. jobless claims up, retail sales disappointing NEW YORK, Aug 13 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures rose on Thursday, boosted by encouraging economic data from Germany and France before disappointing U.S. retail sales and jobless claims reports tempered oil's rally. "While seemingly offsetting influences will initially lead to greater volatility, as market participants' confusion rises, it is a process and it is unfolding just as it should," said Mike Fitzpatrick, vice president at MF Global in New York. "Consistent job growth will not occur until it is obvious that recovery is fully underway. Consumer spending will probably rise on a shallower slope here than in Europe," Fitzpatrick said. The mixed news from Europe and the United States came after the U.S. Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that economic activity was leveling out and financial market conditions have improved further. [ID:nFEDAHEAD] Crude oil futures settled higher on Wednesday, but off their intraday peak. Ahead of the Fed news, crude futures rose sharply, tracking an advancing Wall Street and ignoring government data showing domestic crude inventories rose more than expected last week. PRICES * On the New York Mercantile Exchange at 9:43 a.m EDT (1343 GMT), September crude CLU9 was up 63 cents, or 0.9 percent, at $70.79 a barrel, trading from $70.42 to $72.21. * In London, September Brent crude LCOU9 was up 62 cents, or 0.85 percent, to $73.51 a barrel, trading from $73.24 to $74.72. * NYMEX September RBOB RBU9 slipped 0.23 cent, or 0.11 percent to $2.0230 a gallon, trading from $2.0211 to $2.0831. * NYMEX September heating oil HOU9 rose 1.39 cents, or 0.73 percent, to $1.9060 a gallon, trading from $1.9026 to $1.9330. * The September/September RBOB crack spread <0#RB-CL=R> was at $14.31, after ending at $14.90 on Wednesday. The September/September heating oil crack spread <0#CL-HO=R> was at $9.33, after ending at $9.31 on Wednesday. * The spread between the current front month and the five-year forward crude contract CLc61 was at $15.88, based on the September 2014 contract Wednesday settlement at $86.67. The spread ended Wednesday at $16.51. TECHNICALS NYMEX crude 10-day/20-day moving average: $70.83/$68.36 Technical support/resistance: NYMEX crude: $68.71/$71.95 NYMEX heating oil: $1.8535/$1.9545 NYMEX RBOB: $1.9560/$2.0650 For a full report on technicals, click on [ID:nLD450465] MARKET NEWS * Germany and France had a surprising return to economic growth in the second quarter, data showed. [ID:nLD368819] * U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in July from June, a government report showed. [ID:nN12109251] * U.S. import prices fell a steeper-than-expected 0.7 percent in July, the first drop in six months, largely on lower oil prices, the Labor Department said. [ID:nN13225378] * The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly last week. [ID:nN13489469] * The Atlantic Ocean could see its first named storm of the hurricane season this week. [ID:nN13224620] * The euro hit a one-week high against the dollar on Thursday. [USD/] (Reporting by Robert Gibbons; Editing by Walter Bagley)

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