Orders for long-lasting U.S. factory goods were expected to drop 0.5 percent in July, after rising 0.8 percent a month earlier.

U.S. retail sales were forecast to edged up 0.1 percent in July, after climbing 0.5 percent a month earlier.

U.S. worker productivity increased at its fastest pace in more than three years in the second quarter, depressing labor costs, but the trend in productivity growth remained moderate.