Retail sales were up 0.1 percent month over month in April. And business inventories were status quo in March, with several U.S. businesses not bothering to restock inventories.

The 55+ Single-Family Housing Market Index increased 19 points year over year to 46 in the first quarter of 2013. The central bank is expanding its oversight beyond banks and into other kinds of financial institutions. And the price of regular gasoline nationwide is expected to average $3.53 per gallon over the summer driving season.

Banks reported easing their lending standards – especially for businesses – and experienced strong demand for loans. And 6.59 percent of residential mortgages were delinquent in March, down from 6.8 percent in February. Also, three commercial real estate companies made Fortune magazine’s top 500 companies this year.

A net of 165,000 new jobs were created in April, an announcement that was well received on Friday, especially by investors. The European Commission gave France two more years to meet its budget deficit target, which the country has been unable to do because of slow economic growth since the return of recessionary times to the eurozone.