1.   Analysts said retail spending figures due tomorrow and the March quarter growth report on Wednesday likely will give a firmer idea of the pace of growth in the economy.

2.   But unemployment is falling, wages and retail sales are rising and factories are operating ever closer to full capacity, with new figures due Tuesday morning.

3.   Employment figures due Thursday could give an indication whether interest rates will fall further, though chances of a further cut are slim, traders said.

4.   Given the figures were in line with forecasts, traders and investors said the focus now will shift to U.S. employment figures due tomorrow.

5.   If figures due next week on inflation and earnings are also on the low side, the RBA is likely to cut interest rates, traders said.

6.   Inventories figures due Wednesday and capital investment figures Thursday feed into the national accounts and may prompt some fine tuning of forecasts.

7.   New CBO figures due out early next year should be closer to those in the new report, Holahan said.

8.   NEW ZEALAND bonds declined for a second day as U.S. bonds fell on concern that figures due later this week may indicate inflation is accelerating, traders said.

9.   The most important U.S. figures due this week include the August National Association of Purchasing Management Index and non-farm payrolls report, both due Friday.

10.   The main domestic focus this week for gilt traders and investors will be retail sales and economic growth figures due Thursday.