Free market tool · No signup · Data may be delayed

Economic calendar

See which U.S. jobs, inflation, growth and Federal Reserve releases are coming, what economists expect, and what was actually reported.

Use the tool Read the guide first

StockEducation Editorial Team · Updated · 13 min read · How we check our tools

The tool

See what the economy reports next

Output TradingView widget, may be delayed

Before you start: Times follow the calendar’s own time zone setting; markets react to the gap between actual and forecast.

Try a view

Track every major economic event in one calendar

Browse central bank meetings, inflation prints, employment reports, GDP releases and global macro events. Use the built-in filters to narrow the calendar by country, importance level and time period.

Data may be delayed

Waiting for the calendar. Event dates, release times and timezone appear inside TradingView; blank figures are unavailable, not zero.

Source: TradingView’s embedded economic calendar. Defaults: US reports at all importance levels. Forecast, actual and prior figures are provider values, may be revised or delayed, and do not predict the direction of market prices. Check each event’s date and timezone. Full method and limits.

This calendar uses TradingView analytics cookies.
Enable Statistics cookies to load the calendar.

Cookie preferences
Track all markets on TradingView

Choose filters above, then save, copy or export their settings.

Save and export keep only the two filters above. The link contains coverage and importance settings, not event rows, internal widget changes, holdings, documents or personal details. It opens current provider data, not a saved snapshot. Changes made inside TradingView are not captured.

Filter by country Focus on releases from markets that matter to your portfolio or research.
Compare expectations Check previous, forecast and actual values when available.
Watch high impact events Inflation, jobs, GDP and central bank decisions can shift market expectations.

Educational use only. Economic event data is provided by TradingView and sourced from official government and central bank releases. Data may be delayed, revised or incomplete. Always verify with primary sources before making any investment decision.

How to use it (three steps)

Choose which countries to cover and whether to see every event or only high importance ones. The calendar loads once Statistics cookies are allowed, because it comes from TradingView. Not sure where to start? Load an example.

  1. 1Choose the countries and the importance level
  2. 2Allow Statistics cookies so the calendar can load
  3. 3Note the next jobs report, inflation release and Fed decision

How to read a row

Economic data basics

Each row is one official release. Compare actual with forecast: the gap is the surprise markets react to, not the number itself.

  • Actual is the figure just published. Forecast is what economists expected. Prior is the last release, sometimes revised.
  • Inflation hotter than forecast can push interest rate expectations up, which often weighs on stocks and bonds.
  • Many big U.S. reports come out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, an hour before the stock market opens.
  • Times shown follow your timezone setting in the calendar. Check it before you plan around a release.

Keep or share this view

The link holds only the two filters, not the calendar rows.

Make sense of the big picture

Open the macro analyzer
Quick answer

Which economic reports move the stock market the most?

For U.S. stocks, the biggest scheduled events are usually the monthly jobs report, the monthly consumer price index (CPI) for inflation, quarterly GDP and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions, made at eight scheduled meetings a year.1 Markets move when a number differs from the forecast. In September 2026, consumer prices were up 3.7% on a year earlier, well above the Fed’s 2% goal, so inflation reports draw close attention.2

Jobs reportMonthly, usually a Friday
CPI inflation, 12 months to Sep 20263.7%
Fed meetings a year8
Typical release time8:30 a.m. ET

Checked against Federal Reserve · BLS · see sources

Key takeaways
  • The surprise. Actual versus forecast moves markets.
  • Jobs report. Monthly, from the BLS.
  • CPI. Monthly inflation, 3.7% for the year to September 2026.
  • GDP. Quarterly growth, then revised.
  • The Fed. Eight scheduled rate meetings a year.
  • Timing. Many reports at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.

Reading a releaseThe big U.S. reportsWhat it cannot tell youTest yourself

Part 1 of 3 · Reading a release

How do I read an economic calendar?

An economic calendar lists scheduled data releases and central bank decisions, with what is expected and, once out, what happened.

1

What do actual, forecast and prior mean?

Real BLS readings · September 2026
ReleasePrior monthSeptember actualWhat it means
Monthly CPI change0.4%0.6%Faster than August
Monthly core CPI change0.3%0.3%Same monthly pace
Nonfarm payroll change+133,000 (revised)+29,000Slower job growth

Seasonally adjusted BLS figures, checked October 23, 2026.2, 4 These compare actual with prior, not with an analyst forecast.

Actual is the published result. Forecast is the calendar provider’s consensus estimate, not an agency promise. Prior is the previous reading. Agencies often revise it, and a big revision can matter as much as the new number.

2

What does importance mean?

The calendar rates events by how much they usually move markets. Beginners can start with High importance only and add the rest later.

3

Why does the forecast matter more than the number itself?

Prices reflect expectations, so a surprise relative to the forecast can matter more than whether the headline number looks large or small. A result that matches consensus may still move markets if wages, revisions or other details differ from expectations. Do not substitute the prior reading for the forecast.

Revisions can change the story. In the September 2026 jobs release, BLS revised July payroll growth from +21,000 to −10,000 and August from +162,000 to +133,000. Together, the two earlier months showed 60,000 fewer jobs than previously reported.4 Read these revisions alongside September’s +29,000 figure; the new headline is only part of the report.

So read three things in each row: actual against forecast, the size of any revision to prior, and whether the report agrees with other recent data. One release rarely changes the picture on its own.

The rule

The surprise moves markets: actual versus forecast, not the number on its own.

Marks Part 1 done

Part 2 of 3 · The big U.S. reports

Which U.S. economic reports should beginners watch?

A handful of releases do most of the work. Each tells you something about growth, jobs or prices.

4

What are they and when do they come out?

Major U.S. releases
ReportWho publishes itHow oftenWhat it tells you
Employment Situation (jobs report)Bureau of Labor StatisticsMonthlyJobs added, unemployment, wages
Consumer Price Index (CPI)Bureau of Labor StatisticsMonthlyHow fast consumer prices are rising
Gross domestic product (GDP)Bureau of Economic AnalysisQuarterly, then revisedHow fast the economy is growing
FOMC rate decisionFederal ReserveEight scheduled meetings a yearThe level of short term interest rates

Release dates are published in advance by each agency.3

5

Why does the Fed matter so much?

The Federal Reserve sets the target for short term interest rates. Higher rates make borrowing costlier and make bonds and savings more attractive next to stocks. Jobs and inflation data shape what investors expect the Fed to do next, which is why those reports move prices before the Fed even meets.

6

Why are there two sets of numbers in one jobs report?

The jobs report combines two separate surveys. The household survey, called the Current Population Survey, produces the unemployment rate. The establishment survey, called Current Employment Statistics, asks employers about their payrolls and produces the jobs added figure.4 Because they ask different people different questions, they can point in different directions in the same month.

GDP has its own quirk. The Bureau of Economic Analysis reports growth as an annual rate. Its third estimate put real GDP growth for the second quarter of 2026 at 2.2%.5 That does not mean the economy grew 2.2% in three months. It means the quarter’s pace, kept up for a full year, would come to about 2.2%. The growth inside the quarter itself was closer to 0.5%.

GDP also arrives in stages, and each later estimate can revise the first one, so the calendar may show the same quarter more than once.

The rule

Jobs, inflation, growth and the Fed. Learn those four first.

Marks Part 2 done

Part 3 of 3 · What it cannot tell you

What can the economic calendar not tell you?

The calendar tells you what is scheduled and what was reported. It cannot tell you how markets will react.

7

What are the limits?

  • No prediction. Forecasts are economists’ estimates, and markets can react the opposite way to what seems logical.
  • Provider data. Values come from TradingView and may be delayed or revised. The agencies’ own releases are the official numbers.
  • Cookies. The calendar only loads when Statistics cookies are on, because TradingView uses analytics cookies.
  • Timezones. Check the time setting so you do not miss a release by an hour.

Long term investors rarely need to trade on a single release. Knowing the dates helps you understand why prices move on a given morning.

Your turn

Connect the dots. The AI economic macro analyzer explains what recent jobs, inflation and rate news could mean for different kinds of investments.

Open the macro analyzer Free, no signup.
8

Why can markets move on a Fed day when rates do not change?

The Fed’s rate setting committee has 12 voting members: the seven Board governors, the president of the New York Fed and four other Reserve Bank presidents who rotate each year.6 Its decision sets a target for the federal funds rate, the overnight rate banks charge each other, which then flows through to other borrowing costs.

By meeting day, the decision itself is usually expected. What moves prices is often the statement and the press conference: hints about the next few meetings, a change in tone on inflation, or how many members disagreed. A held rate with a warning about inflation can hit stocks harder than a widely expected cut.

The calendar shows the decision and the time. It cannot show the wording, which is why big moves on Fed days can come well after the headline. Give the first reaction time to settle before reading much into it.

The rule

Know the dates so big moves do not surprise you. Do not trade on headlines alone.

Marks Part 3 done

Mistakes to avoid

Three mistakes to avoid, and what to do instead

Watching every release

Most events barely move markets. Jobs, inflation, GDP and Fed decisions are the ones worth knowing about.

Betting on the number

The market reacts to the gap between the figure and the forecast, not the figure itself, and it does so within seconds.

Forgetting the time zone

Releases are stamped in a set zone. Check it before you plan around one.

Quick check

Three quick questions and one why

0 of 3 answered

1. CPI was forecast to rise 0.2% in a month and came in at 0.4%. How is that usually described?

Answer: C, hotter than expected.Prices rose faster than the forecast, which can raise expectations for higher interest rates.

2. Which agency publishes the monthly jobs report?

Answer: B, the Bureau of Labor Statistics.The BLS publishes the Employment Situation report and the CPI.

3. How many scheduled meetings does the Fed’s rate setting committee hold each year?

Answer: B, 8.The Federal Open Market Committee holds eight regularly scheduled meetings a year.
Why: why can good economic news push stocks down?

Strong jobs or hot inflation can make investors expect the Fed to keep rates higher for longer. Higher rates raise borrowing costs and make bonds more attractive, which can outweigh the good news for stocks.

Common questions

Economic Calendar FAQ

What is an economic calendar?

An economic calendar is a schedule of official data releases and central bank decisions, with the forecast, the prior reading and, once published, the actual figure. Investors use it because big reports such as jobs, inflation and GDP can move stock and bond prices the moment they come out. A U.S. beginner can start with four items: the monthly jobs report, the monthly CPI, quarterly GDP and the Federal Reserve’s eight scheduled rate decisions a year.

What time are U.S. economic reports released?

Many major U.S. reports, including the jobs report and the consumer price index, come out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, an hour before the stock market opens at 9:30. That timing lets futures and bond markets react first, so stocks often open with the news already priced in. Federal Reserve rate decisions are released in the afternoon on the final day of each meeting. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes its full release schedule for the year in advance.

Which economic reports move the stock market the most?

For U.S. stocks, the jobs report, CPI inflation, GDP and Federal Reserve decisions usually matter most. Jobs and inflation shape what investors expect the Fed to do with interest rates, and rates affect what every stock is worth. The size of the move depends on the surprise: a CPI reading that matches its forecast often passes quietly, while one that comes in two tenths of a point hotter can move the whole market.

Why can good economic news make stocks fall?

Strong data can push stocks down when it makes investors expect higher interest rates for longer. A hot jobs report suggests the economy can handle tighter policy, and higher rates raise borrowing costs and make bonds more attractive next to stocks. This misconception catches many beginners. Whether good news is good for stocks depends on where inflation stands: with inflation above the Fed’s 2% goal, strong data often reads as a reason for the Fed to stay firm.

What is the difference between headline and core inflation?

Headline inflation measures the price change of everything in the basket, while core inflation leaves out food and energy. Food and energy prices swing sharply from month to month with weather and oil markets, so core shows the underlying trend more clearly. The Fed watches both. A month where gasoline jumps can push headline CPI well above core, and markets often care more about core because it is less likely to reverse.

Where does this economic calendar get its data?

The calendar on this page is TradingView’s economic calendar, embedded with the country and importance filters you choose. Dates, forecasts and actual figures are TradingView’s provider values and may be delayed or revised later. The official numbers always come from the agencies themselves: the Bureau of Labor Statistics for jobs and CPI, the Bureau of Economic Analysis for GDP and the Federal Reserve for rate decisions. The tool does not make its own forecasts.

Why is the economic calendar not showing?

The calendar only loads when Statistics cookies are allowed, because TradingView uses analytics cookies inside the widget. Open the cookie preferences on this site, turn on Statistics and the calendar should appear. If it is still blank, reload the page. The save and link buttons keep only your two filter choices, country coverage and importance, never event data or anything personal, so changing cookie settings does not lose anything.

Do long term investors need to watch economic reports?

Long term investors do not need to trade on economic reports, but knowing the dates helps. When stocks drop 2% on a morning with a hot inflation report, the calendar explains why, which makes it easier to stay with your plan instead of reacting. A practical habit is to check the week ahead on Monday with only high importance events showing. That takes a minute and removes most surprises.

Next steps

You know what the economy reports and when. Now learn how it shapes your investments.

A free account saves your course progress and opens the $1,000,000 practice simulator, where you can watch real U.S. stocks react to the news with virtual money before any of your own is at stake.

Create your free account Next lesson: Inflation and real returns

Free, no card. Lessons and tools stay free to use without an account.

Economic data on one card, and where to go next
  1. Step 1 · DoneHow economic releases work
    See it on one card
    1. The surprise. Actual versus forecast moves markets.
    2. Jobs report. Monthly, from the BLS.
    3. CPI. Monthly inflation, 3.7% for the year to September 2026.
    4. GDP. Quarterly growth, then revised.
    5. The Fed. Eight scheduled rate meetings a year.
    6. Timing. Many reports at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
  2. 2
    Step 2 · NowRead the big picture

    See what recent data could mean for stocks, bonds and cash.

    Open the macro analyzer Free, no signup.
  3. 3
    Step 3Follow the learning path
    The learning pathFree

    Learn the rest in the right order

    Lessons, videos, tools and quizzes, ordered so each step builds on the last, from market basics to building a portfolio.

    Start the learning path

Want the full sequence? See the course outline →

Sources and assumptions

  1. Federal Reserve: FOMC meeting calendars, statements and minutes. Scheduled meeting dates and decisions.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index. Official inflation data, including the 12 month change to September 2026.
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 2026 release calendar. Dates and times of the jobs report, CPI and other releases.
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: The Employment Situation. The monthly jobs report and its two surveys, household and establishment.
  5. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: Gross domestic product. Official GDP estimates, including the third estimate for the second quarter of 2026.
  6. Federal Reserve: Federal Open Market Committee. Who votes on interest rates and what the federal funds rate is.

How the tool works: it embeds TradingView’s economic calendar with the coverage and importance filters you choose. Event dates, forecasts, actual and prior figures are TradingView’s provider values and may be delayed or revised. The widget loads only when Statistics cookies are allowed. The guide uses BLS September 2026 release figures checked on October 23, 2026. The table compares actual with the prior reading; it does not invent consensus forecasts. Historical figures may be revised.

Page history. October 23, 2026: guide and design updated; the existing calendar and its working fixes were preserved.

StockEducation provides general education, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Results are illustrations based on the assumptions you enter, not forecasts or promises of any return. Investing involves risk, including the loss of money you invest.

Up nextPart 1
Next ↓