Planned business spending up

(Reuters) - A gauge of planned business spending rose in December, a sign that business worries over tighter fiscal policy may not have held back investment plans as much as feared at the end of 2012.

US orders for durable goods rise 4.6% in December, sign of strength in manufacturing - @AP

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — U.S. stock futures gained Monday after equipment-maker Caterpillar Inc. reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit and orders for durable goods jumped in December.

Retail sales point to firmer consumer spending

(Reuters) - Retail sales rose solidly in December as Americans shrugged off the threat of higher taxes and bought automobiles and a range of other goods, suggesting momentum in consumer spending as the year ended. More.