Economic Calendar
An economic calendar lists the dates and times of upcoming data releases and central-bank decisions, so traders know when volatility may spike.
An economic calendar lists the dates and times of scheduled data releases and central bank meetings. Traders use it to know when volatility is likely and to avoid being surprised by a jobs report or a rate decision. Official agencies publish their own schedules, which commercial calendars compile in one place.
- Category
- Fundamentals and Macroeconomics
- Reading time
- 3 min
- Also called
- Economic release calendar, Macro calendar, Data calendar
- Updated
The economic calendar in plain words
Official agencies publish their own release schedules — the BLS, for example, lists the dates of its upcoming reports months ahead.1
Central banks do too: the FOMC has eight scheduled meetings a year, plus extra ones if needed.2
Private surveys matter too; the ISM manufacturing PMI comes out at the very start of each month and is one of the first signals on how factories are doing.3
How to use an economic calendar
Pick reliable sources
Start with the official schedules, such as the BLS release calendar.1
Add central bank dates
Mark central-bank meetings — the FOMC's eight scheduled ones a year.2
Note follow-up releases
Add the FOMC minutes, which come out three weeks after each decision.2
Convert time zones
Write every release time in your own zone.
Rank by impact
Flag events like Nonfarm Payrolls, Consumer Price Index and rate decisions as high impact.
Recheck weekly
Re-check dates: agencies add releases as needed, usually at least a week in advance.1
Worked examples
Example 1 — Avoiding a spike
Risk managedA hypothetical trader sees a jobs report due in 10 minutes and holds a tight stop.
| Event | Jobs report |
| Time left | 10 min |
| Action | Flatten or widen stop |
A quick look at the official calendar would have shown the release date in advance.1
Example 2 — Planning a week
Two dates markedA hypothetical week has an FOMC decision on Wednesday.
| Mon–Tue | Normal |
| Wednesday | Rate decision |
| 3 weeks later | Minutes |
The trader also planned for the minutes, due three weeks after the decision.2
Example 3 — First data of the month
Early signalA hypothetical trader watches the first business day for manufacturing news.
| Release | ISM PMI |
| Day | 1st business day |
The PMI is one of the first monthly signals, which is why markets watch it so closely.3
Official vs aggregator calendars
| Aspect | Official agency calendar | Commercial aggregator |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | One agency | Many countries |
| Accuracy | Primary source | Usually good, can lag |
| Extras | Release details | Forecasts, impact ratings |
| Best use | Confirming dates | Daily planning |
How traders use the calendar
Risk control
Cut Position Sizing or Leverage before big releases.
Event trading
Plan trades around Nonfarm Payrolls or Consumer Price Index.
Policy watching
Track Federal Open Market Committee and other Central Bank meetings.
Session planning
Match releases to Trading Session hours.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Shows when volatility is likely.
- Free and widely available.
- Helps avoid surprise moves.
- Keeps a routine for macro events.
Disadvantages
- Unscheduled news is not listed.
- Impact ratings are subjective.
- Times and zones can confuse.
- Too many events cause noise.
Going deeper
Read as far as you need. Each level builds on the one before it.
What is listed
Beginner
A calendar lists scheduled data and meetings, such as the FOMC's eight regular meetings a year.2
Primary schedules
Intermediate
Confirm dates on the agencies' own sites, since schedules change and new releases get added.1
Second-round events
Advanced
Follow-up documents move markets too — FOMC minutes arrive three weeks after each decision.2
Common mistakes
Wrong time zone
Always convert release times.
Ignoring medium-impact data
Surprises can still move prices.
Trusting one aggregator
Confirm key dates at the source.
Forgetting holidays
Markets and agencies follow local holidays.
Check your understanding
Test yourself before moving on. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Key points to remember
- Lists scheduled releases and meetings.
- Use official schedules to confirm dates.
- Rank events by likely impact.
- Convert every time to your zone.
- Unscheduled news is not covered.
Frequently asked questions
Which events matter most?
Are calendars free?
Can release dates change?
Further learning
- Economic Indicator
What the listed data measure.
- Nonfarm Payrolls
A top-impact release.
- Federal Open Market Committee
The key US policy meetings.
- Volatility
What releases tend to cause.
Sources
This article is written in our own words. The sources below support the specific facts, rules and figures marked with a number in the text. Links open the original publisher’s page.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Schedule of Selected Releases (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- Federal Reserve Board. Meeting calendars and information (FOMC) (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. FEDS Notes: Beyond Aggregates — Measuring Manufacturing Subsector Heterogeneity with the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (opens in a new tab) Checked .
Educational content, not financial advice. Examples use hypothetical prices and simplified costs; actual fees, margin rules and regulations vary by broker, market and country. We are not affiliated with any publisher linked above. Last reviewed . Report an error or request a source credit.