WASHINGTON — After a bevy of economic data last week, this week should be quieter, offering the Federal Reserve’s compilation of anecdotal information on the job market and new details on trade.

On Wednesday, the Fed releases its beige book, an eight-times-a-year assemblage of reports from businesses across the country that is meant to help inform Fed officials as they make monetary policy.

Look for a tone of subdued confidence, evidence that businesses are nervous about the recovery but, nonetheless, are seeing continued gradual growth.

Also Wednesday, the Fed is scheduled to release data on consumer credit. Analysts expect it to show that Americans reduced their non-mortgage debt load, such as credit cards and auto loans, by $4.3 billion in July. That would be much steeper than the $1.3 billion decline in June.

On Thursday, the Commerce Department is expected to report a narrowing of the trade deficit in July, to $47 billion from $49.9 billion in June.

Trade was a major drain on overall growth in the second quarter due to a surprisingly steep rise in imports. The question now is whether that pattern will continue in the third quarter. Thursday’s report will be the first piece of evidence.

Wholesale inventories are forecast to have risen 0.4 percent in July, compared with a 0.1 percent gain in June, as businesses continue to gain confidence and build inventory levels. That report is expected Friday.

With Wall Street closed Monday for Labor Day, world stock markets advanced modestly. By midafternoon in Europe, Britain’s FTSE 100 index was up 0.3 percent at 5,446.17, Germany’s DAX was 0.3 percent higher at 6,153.31, and France’s CAC-40 was up 0.3 percent at 3,684.20.