5 things to know before the stock market opens Monday

• Stocks last week nearly regained all the ground they lost in Monday's rout, and inflation data will determine how they fare in the week ahead.
• Home Depot and Walmart earnings will give a glimpse into the health of the housing market and consumers.
• The White House is pushing to save consumers time and money by making it easier to cancel certain plans or get refunds.

Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day:

Stocks nearly recovered to break even last week after a rout on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week down 0.6%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite lost 0.04% and 0.18%, respectively. A weak July jobs report raised fears about the health of the economy, so traders will be looking for confirmation that the U.S. can stay out of a recession. The July producer price index is due Tuesday, followed by the consumer price index Wednesday and retail sales Thursday. Follow live market updates here.

Major retail earnings this week will give investors another look at the health of consumers. Home Depot will report before the bell Tuesday, offering a gauge of home improvement spending and the housing market. Walmart, the retail giant and the largest U.S. grocer, will offer a look Thursday morning into how consumers weighed down by years of inflation are spending their money. When Walmart last reported results, it said it had made gains in the grocery business as diners balk at the high price of fast food.

The Biden administration is angling to save more consumers time, and money, with a new multi-agency initiative aimed at cutting down corporate policies that burden Americans with red tape. The efforts are designed to make it easier for consumers to cancel