NEW YORK -- Wall Street turned in a mixed performance Tuesday after a fresh report on retail sales and a new oil price record told investors the same old story: The economy is hurting and costs are rising, but things could be worse.

Retail sales strength takes some of the sting out of Wachovia's earnings report as indexes post moderate losses. Stocks finished a quiet session moderately lower Monday as investors grappled with concerns about the health of corporate profits after Wachovia posted disappointing quarterly results.

NEW YORK -- Treasury prices were mostly lower Monday as investors digested more worrisome news in the banking sector and a government report that showed retail sales moved higher in March.

U.S. retail sales fell sharply in February, confirming worries that hard-pressed households have begun to scale back amid tightening credit and a decline in home values, the Commerce Department reported this morning.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Thursday after a series of fresh jolts to credit markets and lackluster retail sales compounded worries the economy is near recession, driving the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 down 2.2 percent to its lowest closing level in 18 months.

Retail sales were up more than expected last month. Is it a sign that the great residential real estate slowdown is almost over?

NEW YORK -- Treasury prices fell Wednesday after a new retail sales report showed an unexpected increase in consumer spending for January after the dismal holiday season.

Sluggishness could give the Fed a reason to cut interest rates again. Retail sales rose by a sluggish 0.2% in October and producer prices edged up slightly, according to data Wednesday that might give the Federal Reserve more leeway to prop up a slowing economy.