Economic reports due next week will cover a spectrum of important sectors from housing to retail to consumer sentiment. Important inflation data will also be released.

The housing sector has been unable to bounce back from lows reached in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Too much speculative building leading up to the crisis has created bloated inventories. Add to that millions of homes forced empty by foreclosure and a huge swath of the U.S. economy has essentially been handcuffed for four years.

The data have shown fitful signs of recovery in 2012, but nothing to indicate sustained momentum.  On Wednesday the National Association of Home Builders will release its housing-market index. The index surprised a month ago by offering the best reading since 2007, but the momentum isn't expected to continue.

On Thursday, data on housing starts and building permits will gauge construction related to the beleaguered sector.