UPDATE 6-Oil hovers near $76 after 3-day slide

                                
 * Euro zone GDP grows at fastest pace in over three years
                                
 * OPEC monthly report signals slow 2011 demand growth
                                
 * U.S. retail sales, consumer sentiment up slightly in July
                                
 
                                
 (Updates prices, adds detail)
                                
 By Emma Farge
                                
 LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Oil hovered near $76 a barrel on
Thursday after a three-day price slide as robust euro zone
growth data were largely eclipsed by lacklustre macroeconomic
data that reinforced doubts on the global fuel demand outlook.
                                
 Early in the session, prices rallied after news that euro
zone gross domestic product (GDP) grew at its fastest pace in
more than three years in the second quarter, boosted by strong
performances in Germany and France. [ID:nBRQ009944]
[ID:nLDE67C0AI]
                                
 But mixed macroeconomic data out of top oil consumer the
United States later doused positive sentiment.
                                
 By 1452 GMT, U.S. crude prices <CLc1> for September were
down 15 cents at $75.59 a barrel after rising more than $1.
                                
 ICE Brent crude <LCOc1> was down 26 cents at $75.26.
                                
 "The whole week has been about poor economic data and
today's releases show that the U.S. consumer is still on the
mend," said Harry Tchilinguirian, commodity strategist at BNP
Paribas.
                                
 "Retail sales disappointed and if consumer confidence in
August managed to come in a notch above expectations...it still
remains below the June reading."
                                
 U.S. retail sales rebounded in July but showed hints of
lingering economic softness while consumer sentiment appeared to
have stabilised in August following a sharp drop the previous
month. [ID:nN13180040]
                                
 But earlier strong European data on Friday has helped set a
floor beneath prices at least temporarily, analysts said.
                                
 The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said
demand for oil would continue to grow slowly in 2011, when world
economic expansion is projected to be slightly lower than this
year's, leaving the current supply overhang intact. [OPEC/M]
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For graphics on the technical outlook and on correlations,
please see:
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 STILL CAUTIOUS
                                
 Front-month crude was on course for a nearly 6 percent fall
for the week, and analysts expected it to stay below the $80 a
barrel benchmark.
                                
 Oil prices were in a $70-$80 a barrel range, where they have
mostly traded since June, barring a brief foray above $80 in
August.
                                
 "The market is very much in '08 mode when it was doubting
aspects of the recovery. There is an element of suspicion about
whether it's sustainable," said Barclays Capital oil analyst
Amrita Sen.
                                
 In the previous session, the number of people filing new
jobless claims in the United States unexpectedly rose to its
highest level in close to six months, a fresh signal of sluggish
economic recovery. [ID:nN11227633]
                                
 Stocks of oil products in the U.S. including gasoline rose
last week even at the height of the summer driving season,
according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. [EIA/S]
 (Additional reporting by Florence Tan in Singapore; editing by
Sue Thomas)