By Marco BösingWhat Is an Economic Calendar?
An economic calendar chronologically lists all scheduled economic data releases, interest rate decisions, and public appearances by central bankers. For active traders, it is an essential planning tool to anticipate periods of heightened volatility.
Each entry typically includes the expected consensus value, the previous reading, and an assessment of market impact (high, medium, low). The deviation of the actual value from consensus often determines the magnitude of the market reaction.
Key dates include NFP releases, CPI prints, FOMC interest rate decisions, and GDP reports. Professional use of the economic calendar helps traders manage risk and capitalize on data-driven market moves.