Americans still see that the economy has not improved amid the coronavirus, which is reflected in consumers confidence.

The University of Michigan survey showed that the US consumer confidence index rose to 72.8 points in August vs.72.5 points in July, slightly higher than analysts forecasts of 72.0 points.

The major US stock indices fell on Friday, after the release of lower-than-expected economic data, which fueled market's concerns about the coronavirus effects.

Data showed that the US retail sales index rose 1.2% in July, below forecasts of 2% vs. 8.4% in June.

Excluding energy and food, which are more volatile commodities, the US Retail Sales Index rose 1.9% last month, beating expectations by 1.3%.

While the core reading retail sales (excluding food and fuel prices) rose 1.9%, higher than forecasts of 1.3%.

The non-farm productivity index rose 7.3% in the second quarter, while industrial production rose 3%, slightly lower than forecasts of 3.1%.

As for stocks, Dow Jones fell 0.2% or 50 points to 27,846 as of 14:11 GMT, Nasdaq fell 0.1% or 16 points to 11,026, and S&P 500 fell 0.1% or 2 points to 3,371.

At 12:30 GMT, the US economy released its reading for the retail sales index, which rose by 1.2% in July, but lower than forecasts of 2%, while the index rose by 8.4% in the previous reading after it was revised from 7.5%. 

The core reading (excluding food and fuel prices) rose by 1.9%, higher than forecasts of 1.3%, while the previous reading was at 8.3% after it was revised from 7.3%.

The US dollar rose on Friday, to resume its gains after two days, lifted renewed hopes about the US economic recovery after upbeat jobs data, and ahead of the US retail sales reading for July.

The dollar index rose over 0.2% to 93.41 points, after opening at 93.22, and hitting a session-low of 93.16.

The index lost 0.2% yesterday, its second straight daily loss, but it was reduced from 0.5% after the release of strong data in the US.

The US Department of Labor revealed yesterday that the unemployment claims fell to 963,000 during the past week, beating forecasts of 1.120 million in a positive sign for the US labor market.

Investors are anticipating the release of the US retail sales, which is one of the most important gauges of consumer spending that accounts for 70% of the US GDP, which delivers key insight on the US economy's recovery from the coronavirus effects.

The US retail sales monthly reading will be released at 12:30 GMT, with forecasts for a rise by 2% in July vs. 7.5% in June, and the core reading for the same index (excluding car sales) is expected to also rise by 1.3% vs. 7.3%.

At 13:15 GMT, the US economy will release the industrial production monthly reading, with forecasts to rise by 3.1% in July vs. 5.4% in June, and the capacity utilization rate is expected to reach 70.3% vs. 68.6% in June.