SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — International stock markets extended losses today as lower Chinese inflation added to data suggesting slowing growth in the world’s No. 2 economy. Futures point to a tepid start today on Wall Street. Benchmark U.S. crude oil slipped but remains above $46.50 per barrel. The dollar fell against the yen and the euro.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A series of economic reports will offer some fresh perspective on the state of the economy today. This morning, the government releases data on retail sales, business inventories and producer prices. This afternoon, the Federal Reserve releases its latest Beige Book. In last month’s survey of business conditions, 11 of the Fed’s 12 regional banks reported that the economy grew at least modestly.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese inflation eased in September, giving Beijing more room to stimulate slowing economic growth if needed. Consumer prices rose 1.6 percent over a year earlier, driven by a 2.7 percent rise in food costs. That was down of from August’s 2 percent increase. Beijing has cut interest rates five times since November.

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota is predicting it will be all but out of the gasoline motorcar business by 2050 in favor of hybrids and fuel cell vehicles. Toyota has set new environmental targets to radically reduce emissions. Toyota announced its ambitious vision at a Tokyo museum today, promising to push various “stakeholders” to reduce average emissions from Toyota cars by 90 percent.

NEW YORK (AP) — If Martha Stewart had her way, Kmart could have been KMartha. The home goods mogul said she regrets not buying Kmart before a deal with the discount chain went sour. Stewart said another executive at Martha Stewart Living was “less bold” than she was and was against a buyout. A spokesman for Sears Holding Corp., the Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based company that owns Kmart, declined to comment.

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