An economic calendar is a planning tool that systematically lists the release dates of important macroeconomic data, events, and central bank decisions. Typical entries include interest rate decisions, inflation data, labor market reports (such as US Non-Farm Payrolls), GDP figures, purchasing managers’ indices, and speeches by central bank officials. Each event usually includes the expected value, the previous value, and the forecast range.
Traders use the economic calendar to anticipate periods of increased volatility and adjust their trading activity or positioning accordingly. News traders specifically base their strategies around these events. For all market participants, the economic calendar is an essential tool for staying informed, planning trading activity, and better understanding unexpected market movements.
