The sluggish economic present and the bright technological future will take center stage this week.

More than 140,000 people are converging on Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show. The C.E.S. is the forum for companies to unveil their latest gadgets. Among this year's highlights are expected to be Bluetooth capabilities for automobiles and innovations to make high-definition televisions flatter, larger, sharper, and even wireless. And the "green" trend is taking an ever-firmer hold, as witnessed by the show's section specifically focused on sustainable technologies.

A different kind of tech—biotechnology—will be the talk of the 26th annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco through Thursday.

Innovation may help buoy shares of some tech companies this week, but most investors will be focused on the Bush administration's response to new signs of an economic slowdown. Last week, the employment report for December showed virtually no job growth. On Monday, President Bush speaks on the economy in Chicago, while Treasury secretary Henry Paulson addresses the New York Society of Security Analysts about recent developments in the capital markets.

After posting disappointing holiday sales figures, on Thursday retailers will report same-store sales results for December. While 2008 is hardly expected to usher in sustained recovery for the industry, some investors are optimistic that postholiday markdowns and last-minute Christmas shopping will paint a brighter picture.

On Tuesday the National Association of Realtors releases its housing forecast and index of pending sales of homes. And with oil breaking $100 a barrel last week, Thursday's weekly crude inventory report will be the subject of continued focus.

Fourth-quarter corporate earnings begin to get into full swing on Wednesday with a report from Alcoa, the aluminum giant.