Investing.com - The dollar was mixed against the other major currencies on Friday, ahead of the release of U.S. data later in the trading session, although Thursday's strong U.S. economic reports still lent some support to the greenback.
The dollar was higher against the euro, with EUR/USD down 0.17% to 1.3719.
Markets eyed the release of U.S. data later in the trading session, after economic reports on Thursday showed that U.S. jobless claims fell to the lowest level since late November last week and that U.S. economic fourth quarter growth was revised higher.
The upbeat data added to hopes that the slowdown in U.S. economic activity seen at the start of the year would be temporary.
In the euro zone, official data showed that French consumer spending rose 0.1% in February, less than the expected 0.8% increase, after a 2.1% decline the previous month.
The pound was steady against the dollar, with GBP/USD inching up 0.01% to 1.6612.
Data showed that the U.K. gross domestic product rose by 0.7% in the fourth quarter, in line with expectations.
A separate report showed that the U.K. current account deficit narrowed to £22.4 billion in the fourth quarter, from £22.8 billion in third quarter, whose figure was revised down from a previously estimated deficit of £20.7 billion.
Analysts had expected the current account deficit to narrow to £14 billion in the fourth quarter.
The dollar was higher against the yen and the Swiss franc, with USD/JPY adding 0.11% to 102.29 and with USD/CHF rising 0.23% to 0.8886.
Government data earlier showed that retail sales in Japan rose at an annaualized rate of 3.6% in February, beating expectations for a 3.2% increase, after a 4.4% gain the previous month.
A separate report showed that Tokyo's consumer price inflation rose 1.3% this month from a year earlier, exceeding expectations for a 1.2% gain, after a 1.1% increase in February.
Core consumer price inflation, which excludes fresh food, rose 1% this month from a year earlier, exceeding expectations for a 0.9% advance, after a 0.9% increase in February.
The reports came after data showed that household spending in Japan declined at an annualized rate of 2.5% last month, compared to expectations for a 0.1% uptick, after a 1.1% rise in January.
The greenback was lower against the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, with AUD/USD edging up 0.10% to 0.9267, NZD/USD up 0.22% to 0.8691 and USD/CAD falling 0.14% to 1.1017.
The US Dollar Index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.13% to 80.39.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release a report on personal spending and revised data on consumer sentiment.