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Retail sales were little changed in July, the worst performance in six months, as tepid wage growth restrained U.S. consumers.

The average price for regular gasoline at U.S. pumps dropped 5.89 cents to $3.52 in the past two weeks, according to Lundberg Survey Inc.

The productivity of U.S. workers rose more than projected in the second quarter, rebounding from the biggest drop in more than three decades and helping to restrain labor costs.

Fewer Americans filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, sending the average over the past month to an eight-year low, a sign the labor market continues to gain momentum.

The trade deficit in the U.S. unexpectedly narrowed in June, reflecting the biggest drop in imports in a year as the economy moved closer to energy independence.

Deutsche Post AG’s second-quarter profit beat analysts’ estimates as the German parcel business and international express unit of Europe’s largest postal company expanded.

Fewer Americans filed applications for unemployment insurance benefits over the past month than at any time in more than eight years, signaling employers are hanging on to workers as demand improves.

Gains in consumer spending and business investment helped the U.S. economy rebound more than forecast in the second quarter following a slump in the prior three months that was smaller than previously estimated.