Meanwhile, consumers have beaten back price increases at retail, as the seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index for apparel fell in September from August, the first monthly decline in six months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Thursday.

FORBES: Cotton's Pinch on Clothing Stores Continues

In notable economic news this week, the Labor Department announced that the seasonally adjusted producer price index dropped by 0.8 percent last month, the second straight decline.

FORBES: Weekly Market Wrap

Zillow is predicting the non-seasonally adjusted 20-City Composite Home Price Index will decline by 3.2% on a year-over-year basis, while the 10-City Composite Home Price Index will show a year-over-year decline of 2.7%.

FORBES: Connect

The producer price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.4%, slightly less than expectations for a 0.5% rise.

WSJ: European Stocks Gain

The Case-Shiller 20 city home price index (not seasonally adjusted) is up more than 2% since March 2011 and 8% over the last 12 months.

FORBES: Bank On Mortgage Lenders With Undervalued Flagstar

Zillow predicts that the 20-City Composite Home Price Index (non-seasonally adjusted, NSA) will decline by 3.2% on a year-over-year basis, while the 10-City Composite Home Price Index (NSA) will show a year-over-year decline of 2.8%.

FORBES: By Dr. Stan Humphries, Zillow Chief Economist

Rising gasoline prices helped push wholesale prices higher, but the producer price index, which grew a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent in February, has risen just 1.7 percent in the past 12 months.

NPR: Futures Higher; S&P 500 Positioned For Record

The Labor Department said the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis after an unrevised 0.3% gain in October.

FORBES: Magazine Article

At the same time the national price index for personal consumption spending increased 0.3% in the third quarter, which is seasonally adjusted, but may reflect a slight pick up in pre-holiday spending.

FORBES: Economic Data Friday