NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. dollar remained lower early Tuesday after the Commerce Department confirmed that the U.S. economy contracted at a 0.5% annual rate in the third quarter. The dollar index , which tracks the currency versus six major counterparts, declined 0.3% at 80.951. The euro gained to $1.3998. The gross domestic product figure was the final revision for the three months ended in September and in line with expectations of economists surveyed by MarketWatch. Separate reports due at 10 a.m. are expected to show new and existing home sales slowed in November and consumer sentiment weakened in December.
