Soft U.S. retail sales, manufacturing seen

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

Summer doldrums for the U.S. economy are likely to remain evident this week with a mediocre increase in retail spending and further signs of softening in the manufacturing sector. See full story.

Slowdown in luxury spending may hit Saks

A slowdown in U.S. high-end spending that has hurt retailers from Tiffany & Co. to Macy�s Inc. could be hitting luxury retailer Saks Inc. in the second half as well, an analyst said on Friday. See full story.

Consumer sentiment lowest since December

Consumer sentiment is the lowest since December, with job concerns hitting results, according to data released Friday by the University of Michigan and Thomson Reuters. See full story.

How 2012�s top money ideas have fared so far

As 2012 began, investors were encouraged to stick with defensive, dividend-paying U.S. stocks. Those strategies are paying off so far this year. See full story.

Perils of a corporate profit slowdown

The 2013 fiscal cliff should be a wake-up call. It does not benefit America�s economy to have the highest corporate tax rate in the world, writes Diana Furchtgott-Roth. See full story.

MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY

Why has the New York Times failed to find a successor to the previous CEO in seven months? asks media columnist Jon Friedman See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

It�s a situation that seems to defy supply-and-demand logic: If there�s more demand in the housing market, wouldn�t the cost of borrowing funds to buy a home be significantly on the rise? See full story.