US RATE FUTURES-Fed hike ideas dip on retail, claims data

CHICAGO Aug 13 (Reuters) - U.S. short-term interest rate futures pushed down the implied chances for Federal Reserve rate hikes early in the new year after weak reports on weekly jobless claims and monthly retail sales on Thursday.

Futures show a 38 percent perceived chance for the Fed to raise benchmark rates in January, down from 46 percent before the reports were issued.

July retail sales fell 0.1 percent against forecasts for a 0.7 percent increase, and sales excluding autos tumbled by 0.6 percent compared with forecasts for a 0.1 percent rise. (Reporting by Ros Krasny; Editing by James Dalgleish)