Economic Calendar This Week
The US economic events that move markets this week and next: Fed decisions, CPI inflation, the jobs report, GDP and more, with release times and why each one matters.
Updated · Release dates: FRED (St. Louis Fed) and the Federal Reserve · All times Eastern
This week: October 19–23, 2026
3 key US releases
- Mon19
- Quiet
- Tue20
- Housing8:30
- Wed21
- Quiet
- Thu22
- Claims8:30
- Fri23
- Sentiment10:00
Tuesday, Oct 20
- 8:30 a.m. ETHousing starts and building permitsNew home construction, a rate-sensitive corner of the economy.MinorMinor
Thursday, Oct 22
- 8:30 a.m. ETWeekly jobless claimsNew unemployment filings, the most timely labor-market data.MinorMinor
Friday, Oct 23
- 10:00 a.m. ETConsumer sentiment, final (University of Michigan)How confident consumers feel, plus their inflation expectations.WatchWatch
Next week: October 26–30, 2026
4 key US releases
- Mon26
- Quiet
- Tue27
- Quiet
- Wed28
- Fed2:00
- Thu29
- GDP8:30
- PCE8:30
- Claims8:30
- Fri30
- Quiet
Wednesday, Oct 28
- 2:00 p.m. ETFed interest rate decision and press conferenceThe Federal Reserve sets its benchmark interest rate. The statement and the chair’s press conference often move every market.Market moverMarket mover
Thursday, Oct 29
- 8:30 a.m. ETGDPTotal output of the US economy, the broadest measure of growth.Market moverMarket mover
- 8:30 a.m. ETPCE inflation and consumer spendingThe Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, released with personal income and spending.Market moverMarket mover
- 8:30 a.m. ETWeekly jobless claimsNew unemployment filings, the most timely labor-market data.MinorMinor
Key dates ahead
The next scheduled date for each major release and the next Fed decision.
- Housing starts and building permitsTue, Oct 20 · 8:30 a.m. ETMinor
- Consumer sentiment, final (University of Michigan)Fri, Oct 23 · 10:00 a.m. ETWatch
- Fed interest rate decision and press conferenceWed, Oct 28 · 2:00 p.m. ETMarket mover
- GDPThu, Oct 29 · 8:30 a.m. ETMarket mover
- PCE inflation and consumer spendingThu, Oct 29 · 8:30 a.m. ETMarket mover
- Job openings (JOLTS)Tue, Nov 3 · 10:00 a.m. ETWatch
- Jobs report: payrolls and unemploymentFri, Nov 6 · 8:30 a.m. ETMarket mover
- Consumer Price Index (CPI)Tue, Nov 10 · 8:30 a.m. ETMarket mover
- Producer Price Index (PPI)Fri, Nov 13 · 8:30 a.m. ETWatch
- Retail salesTue, Nov 17 · 8:30 a.m. ETWatch
- Industrial productionTue, Nov 17 · 9:15 a.m. ETMinor
Live calendar: actual vs. forecast
Every release in the US and other major economies, with the forecast, the previous reading and the actual figure as it comes out.
How to use this calendar
- Market mover events are the ones that most often move stocks, bonds and the dollar on the day: Fed decisions, the jobs report, CPI, PCE and GDP.
- Watch events can move markets when they surprise, especially retail sales, producer prices and job openings.
- Minor events matter mostly to specific sectors, such as housing starts for homebuilders.
- The live calendar below the key dates shows every release, including other countries, with the forecast, the previous reading and the actual number as it is published.
The releases that move markets most
The Fed’s interest rate decision. Eight times a year the Federal Open Market Committee sets the federal funds rate. The decision comes at 2:00 p.m. Eastern, with a press conference half an hour later, and what the chair says about the path ahead often matters more than the decision itself.
The jobs report. Usually on the first Friday of the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports how many jobs were added and the unemployment rate. Strong numbers can push bond yields up if investors expect the Fed to keep rates higher.
CPI and PCE inflation. CPI comes out first each month; PCE, the Fed’s preferred measure, follows near month-end. Both are watched for the “core” reading, which leaves out food and energy.
GDP. Released quarterly, with revisions in the following months, GDP is the broadest measure of whether the economy is growing.
Earnings can move individual stocks as much as any of these. See the S&P 500 earnings calendar for who reports this week, and the live markets dashboard for how markets are trading today.
FAQ
What time are US economic reports released?
Most major reports, including CPI, the jobs report, GDP, PCE, retail sales and weekly jobless claims, come out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, an hour before the stock market opens. Fed rate decisions are announced at 2:00 p.m. Eastern, followed by the chair’s press conference at 2:30.
Which economic reports move the stock market most?
The Fed’s interest rate decisions, the monthly jobs report, CPI inflation, PCE inflation and GDP. They shape what investors expect the Fed to do next with interest rates, which affects stock valuations, bond yields and mortgage rates.
How often is this economic calendar updated?
Every weekday evening and on Sunday. Release dates come from the St. Louis Fed’s FRED release calendar and the Federal Reserve’s meeting schedule; the live calendar on this page updates in real time.