The economic releases that move markets
What each release is, when it comes out, and why it moves the dollar and gold. Exact dates come from the agency that publishes it.
- CPI
US Consumer Price Index (CPI)
America's headline inflation reading, and the release that moves rate expectations — and with them the dollar and gold — most.
Monthly · US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- NFP
US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)
The monthly US jobs report, and one of the most market-moving and volatile releases of the month.
Monthly · US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — the Employment Situation report
- FOMC
US interest-rate decision (FOMC)
The biggest event on the forex calendar: the dollar's interest rate, and what the Fed chair says about the next step.
Eight scheduled meetings a year · The Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee
- PCE
Personal Consumption Expenditures price index (PCE)
The inflation gauge the Federal Reserve prefers; its 2% target is defined on it.
Monthly · US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) — the Personal Income and Outlays report
- GDP
US Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The broadest measure of the size and growth of the US economy; it moves markets most on its first estimate.
Quarterly, in three estimates per quarter · US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
- ISM PMI
US ISM Manufacturing PMI
A monthly survey of company purchasing managers — the first read on the economy each month.
Monthly · Institute for Supply Management (ISM)
- Retail Sales
US Retail Sales
A monthly read on US consumer spending, the largest part of the US economy.
Monthly · US Census Bureau
- ECB
ECB interest-rate decision
The euro's interest-rate decision — the biggest event for EUR/USD after the Fed's.
Roughly every six weeks (eight meetings a year) · The European Central Bank's Governing Council
Educational explanation, not investment advice. Market reactions to any release are not guaranteed and can run against the usual pattern.