Today: Retail Sales, Beige Book in Focus

Today, the government issues its December report on retail sales, which will give us yet another window into the dismal holiday season. We do not expect the numbers to be cheery. The Commerce Department report will be released at 8:30 a.m.

Later this afternoon, the focus will turn to the Federal Reserve, which issues its Beige Book at 2 p.m. After yesterday's public addresses by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and the No. 2 Fed chief, Donald L. Kohn, which supported Obama's big economic stimulus plan, we'll get a look at the Beige Book to see all the regional and anecdotal data from businesses across many industries that the Fed takes into account in forming its policy.

Check back here for live updates throughout the day.

--Sara Goo