Canadian retail sales grew 1.0% in August, reaching C$70.4 billion ($50.3 billion), Statistics Canada reported Thursday. The increase was largely driven by stronger sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

U.S. retail sales showed solid growth in July, driven by robust demand for motor vehicles and promotional activity from major retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

European stock markets edged higher Friday, with investors digesting more corporate earnings as well as regional inflation data after the European Central Bank’s latest easing of monetary policy, News.az reports citing Reuters.

Retail sales in Albania experienced robust year-on-year growth of 5.9 percent in the second quarter (Q2), the country's Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) said on Friday, News.Az reports.

U.S. stock index futures rose slightly Thursday, extending the recent positive momentum ahead of the release of widely-watched retail sales data, News.az reports citing Investing .