Free Trading School · Level 10: Fundamentals and the News
The economic reports that matter
Each week brings economic data releases. A handful move markets far more than the rest. They are published on an economic calendar with the time, the forecast and the previous value.
| Report | Measures | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| CPI (inflation) | Change in consumer prices | Drives central bank decisions |
| Employment (US Non-Farm Payrolls, Canada LFS) | Jobs created, unemployment rate | Health of the economy; very volatile release |
| GDP | Total economic output | Confirms growth or recession |
| Retail sales | Consumer spending | Consumers drive most of the economy |
| PMI | Business surveys; above 50 = expansion | Early signal of the economic cycle |
| Central bank decisions | Interest rates and guidance | The biggest movers of all |
Key takeaway
Check the calendar every morning. Know which high-impact releases are scheduled before you place a trade.
Quick answers
What do beginners need to know about the economic reports that matter?
Each week brings economic data releases. A handful move markets far more than the rest. They are published on an economic calendar with the time, the forecast and the previous value.
What is the key takeaway from the lesson on the economic reports that matter?
Check the calendar every morning. Know which high-impact releases are scheduled before you place a trade.
Which report measures inflation?
Continue in the interactive school (diagrams, quiz, progress) →
CPI. The Consumer Price Index tracks changes in consumer prices.
Next lesson: Company earnings and fundamentals