Incentives are driving buyers to automobile showrooms, and it’s proven in April’s U.S. car sales’ reports. General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler Group all reported gains from a year ago. Low interest rates, high used-car prices and attractive lease deals have all drawn buyers.

In what could be an indicator of the health of the larger economy, pickup truck sales are leading the way. Contractors and small business owners are re-stocking fleets and work trucks as their business recovers.

Major retailers could report disappointing fiscal first-quarter results due to cooler-than-average spring temperatures, according to one weather analytics expert.

As a result of the weather in March and earlier in April, spring merchandise has been sitting on store shelves longer than usual, and retailers have been offering discounts to clear out inventory and make room for summer products, Paul Walsh, vice president of weather analytics at The Weather Channel, told "Big Data Download."