U.S. stock index futures added to gains Tuesday following better-than-expected retail sales and after both French and German gross domestic product (GDP) data beat expectations.
Retail sales rose 0.8 percent in July, climbing for the first time in four months, according to the Commerce Department. Economists polled by Reuters had expected retail sales to gain 0.3 percent.
Producer prices gained 0.3 percent in July, the fastest pace in five months in July, according to the Labor Department. Analysts polled by Reuters expected the index to rise 0.2 percent. The increase was mainly driven by gains in consumer goods, with light trucks up 1.6 percent and pharmaceuticals up 0.9 percent. But energy prices fell 0.4 percent last month.
In Europe, France's GDP remained flatin the second quarter compared to the previous quarter; economists had expected a 0.1 percent decline, which would have tipped the country into recession. And German GDP rose 0.3 percent on the previous quarter, sending European shares higher. (Read More: The Secret to Germany's Economic Strength)
Among earnings, Home Depot climbed after the home-improvement retailer topped Wall Street's profit estimates and boosted its fiscal-year earnings guidance. Rival Lowe's also edged higher.
