MW: Dollar gains more after retail sales, price data
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The dollar added to gains versus rivals on Tuesday after a pair of U.S. economic reports said retail sales rose 2.7% and producer prices rose 1.7% in August, both more than economists expected. The dollar index (DXY 76.91, +0.22, +0.28%) , a measure of the U.S. unit against a basket of rival currencies, traded at 76.917, up from 76.727 on Monday. Retail sales rose up 1.1% excluding automobiles. Wholesale prices, excluding food and energy, rose 0.2%. A third report from the New York Federal Reserve Bank said its Empire State Manufacturing index rose to 18.9 in September from 12.1 in August. Still to come is a report on inventories and a speech from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke about reflections on a year in crisis, both at 10 a.m. Eastern.
