(Kitco News) – Gold and silver head into the coming week with investors focused on the health of the U.S. economy and the Federal Reserve's interest-rate outlook, as manufacturing, housing and central bank signals could drive volatility across precious metals markets.

(Kitco News) - The gold market is trading near session highs after the latest data showed consumer sentiment in the U.S. declining, with shorter-term inflation expectations ticking higher.The University of Michigan announced on Friday that the preliminary reading of its Consumer Sentiment survey for August was 51. The data was worse than expectations, as the consensus forecast of economists called for a reading of 54.5. It was also significantly lower than July’s final reading of 55.2.

(Kitco NewsWire) - Spot gold and silver prices are higher in early U.S. trading Friday, after July retail sales unexpectedly fell and reinforced the market’s view that the Federal Reserve is closer to holding rates steady in September.