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What is the economic calendar?
Economic calendar, also known as Forex economic calendar or FX Calendar, is a tool that allows traders to make the fundamental analysis of financial markets based on economic news. That is – you will be able to see macroeconomic events that move the market and make Forex trading decisions based on the data.
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What data is included in the economic calendar?
The economic calendar includes information about major economic events, as well as political news and the impact they have on the Forex market. All these financial events are used as economic indicators.
The economic events calendar also shows the time and date of when the indicator data was released, the currency that they are expected to affect, and each indicator's impact level. Most indicators have numerical values, which may be expressed as a percentage or as a currency value. They reflect the impact the particular indicator had or is going to have, either positive or negative.
Our forex economic calendar has three columns to show the value of economic indicators: Previous, Forecast, and Actual:
- Previous shows the value the indicator had in the previous period (usually, one month or one year);
- Forecast shows the estimated value of the indicator based on a survey of 20-240 economists;
- Actual is the value published by an official source like a national statistics agency or an analytical center.
We also provide additional information about the specific indicators and the graphs showing changes in value by month or year – click the indicator you're interested in to learn more.
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How to read the economic calendar?
Sometimes the number of current economic events can be overwhelming. So, first of all, make sure to use filters to see the most relevant indicators for your Forex trading. For example, you can choose currencies that you are planning on trading or the indicator impact.
At the top of our Forex trading calendar, choose the most convenient time zone.
Use numeric values of the indicators to navigate market changes. This is why forecasts and actual release figures are essential. Compare the numbers: if the Actual value is bigger than the forecast, this is good for the currency and it is likely to go up in price; if the Actual value is lower than the Forecast, it is likely to drop.
You can apply similar logic to the Previous and Forecast values before the actual data is released, but be careful – forecasts are always preliminary and actual figures might be drastically different.
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What economic indicators are there?
Economic indicators are major economic events that are used to interpret investment opportunities in Forex trading. They usually are macroeconomic events that affect currencies and stock prices.
The indicators can be leading (predict upcoming changes), coincident (show the current economic state of the particular area) and lagging (confirm patterns and trends).
Top economic indicators:
- The US Treasury Yield Curve – shows the ratio between short-term Treasury bills and long-term Treasury bonds. This indicator successfully predicted eight major recessions of the past years.
- GDP (Gross Domestic Product) – one of the most critical metrics of the economy's health. It is a lagging indicator, so it shows what has already happened, but can be a great marker of an upcoming recession.
- Unemployment Rate – this is a percentage of people seeking jobs and will indicate how healthy the labor force and, thus, the economy really is.
- Interest Rates – another lagging indicator that shows economic growth. It can affect GDP and inflation, so be aware of this one.
These are some of the few important indicators. Make sure to follow our daily trading plans from FBS analysts to learn more about the current trading news events and how they will affect your Forex trading.
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How to trade the news?
The financial events are typically scheduled ahead of time. There are usually predictions ahead of the release (Forecast column in our Forex news calendar) of how it will affect the market. Some traders choose to open positions depending on their expectations of economic indicator reports: if they expect a particular indicator to move the currency up, they buy it and vice versa. Other traders dislike rapid price movements that may happen when indicators are released, so they steer clear of using the FX calendar and trading the news.
There are many news trading strategies: you have to use the one you find best suited for your trading style. FBS, apart from providing all the necessary services for trading, also have all the vital information for any trader's needs. Check out our news section to be aware of possible market movements.
Even if you are not one to trade the news, you should still check the trading economic calendar or read about current economic events regularly because they are likely to affect market volatility.
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Is the economic calendar updated in real-time?
Our major economic events calendar is updated automatically as the reports come out. FBS is there to offer timely updates to the economic calendar, but we cannot be held accountable for any delays due to the immoderate flow of trading news events.
Economic Calendar
List of important economic releases
Time
Impact
Currency
Event
Previous
Forecast
Actual
Apr 30, 2024
06:00
EUR
Import Prices YoY
{previous}
-4.9%
{forecast}
{actual}
In Germany, Import Prices correspond to the rate of change in the prices of goods and services purchased by residents of that country from, and supplied by, foreign sellers. Import Prices are heavily affected by exchange rates.
06:00
ZAR
Private Sector Credit YoY
{previous}
3.32%
{forecast}
{actual}
Private sector credit measures year over year change in the bank lending to domestic private sector.
06:00
EUR
Retail Sales MoM
{previous}
-1.9%
{forecast}
{actual}
In Germany, the Retail sales report provides an aggregated measure of sales of retail goods and services over a specific time period. In Germany, Retail sales are seasonal, volatile and relatively important to the overall economy.
06:00
ZAR
M3 Money Supply YoY
{previous}
5.71%
{forecast}
{actual}
South Africa Money Supply M3 includes M2 plus long-term time deposits in banks.
06:00
EUR
Import Prices MoM
{previous}
-0.2%
{forecast}
{actual}
In Germany, Import Prices correspond to the rate of change in the prices of goods and services purchased by residents of that country from, and supplied by, foreign sellers. Import Prices are heavily affected by exchange rates.
06:45
EUR
Harmonised Inflation Rate YoY Prel
{previous}
2.4%
{forecast}
{actual}
The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) is an indicator of inflation and price stability for the European Central Bank (ECB). The HICP is compiled by Eurostat and the national statistical institutes in accordance with harmonised statistical methods. The ECB aims to maintain annual inflation rates as measured by the HICP below, but close to, 2% over the medium term.
06:45
EUR
Harmonised Inflation Rate MoM Prel
{previous}
0.2%
{forecast}
{actual}
06:45
EUR
PPI MoM
{previous}
-1.7%
{forecast}
{actual}
In France, the Producer Price Inflation MoM measures a month-over-month change in the price of goods and services sold by manufacturers and producers in the wholesale market.
06:45
EUR
PPI YoY
{previous}
-5.5%
{forecast}
{actual}
Producer prices change refers to year over year change in price of goods and services sold by manufacturers and producers in the wholesale market during a given period.
06:45
EUR
Inflation Rate YoY Prel
{previous}
2.3%
{forecast}
{actual}
In France, the most important category in the consumer price index is services (48 percent of total weight), in particular rents, water and garbage collection (8 percent), health services (7 percent), transport (2 percent), and communication (2 percent). The index also includes: manufactured products (24 percent) such as medical products (4 percent) and clothing and footwear (3 percent); food (16 percent); energy (9 percent) such as petroleum products (4 percent); and tobacco (2 percent).
06:45
EUR
Inflation Rate MoM Prel
{previous}
0.2%
{forecast}
{actual}
In France, the most important category in the consumer price index is services (48 percent of total weight), in particular actual rentals and services for dwellings (7 percent), health services (6 percent), transport (3 percent), and communication (2 percent). The index also includes: manufactured products (26 percent) such as medical products (4 percent) and clothing and footwear (4 percent); food (16 percent); energy (8 percent) such as petroleum products (4 percent); and tobacco (2 percent).
07:00
CHF
KOF Leading Indicators
{previous}
101.5
{forecast}
{actual}
In Switzerland, the KOF Swiss Economic Institute economic barometer measures the level of optimism that people who run companies have about the performance of the economy and how they feel about their organizations’ prospects. The KOF economic barometer is based on a multi-sectoral design with three modules. The 2014 version comprises 219 indicator variables, which are combined based on statistically determined weights. The most important module is GDP, which excludes construction and banking sectors and accounts for more than 90% of Swiss GDP.
07:00
TRY
Imports Final
{previous}
$27.85B
{forecast}
{actual}
Turkey's main imports are machinery and transport equipment (31 percent of total imports), of which road vehicles (7 percent) and electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances (6 percent); manufactured goods (16 percent), of which iron and steel (5 percent); mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (16 percent), of which petroleum and petroleum products (4 percent); chemicals and related products (13 percent), of which plastics (4 percent); gold, non-monetary (7 percent); crude materials, inedible, except fuels (7 percent); miscellaneous manufactured articles (6 percent); and food and live animals (4 percent). The country's main imports' sources were: China (10 percent of total imports); Germany (9 percent); Russia (8 percent); the US and Italy (5 percent each); France, Iran, Switzerland, South Korea, the UK, Spain and India (3 percent each).
07:00
TRY
Balance of Trade Final
{previous}
$-6.77B
{forecast}
{actual}
The Turkish trade balance has been in deficit since 1947. Turkey major exports are road vehicles, textiles, iron and steel, clothing and food, while imports were machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, mineral fuels and lubricants and chemicals. The biggest trade deficits were recorded with China, Russia, Germany, South Korea, Switzerland, India, Iran and Japan; and the largest surpluses were recorded with Iraq, the UAE, the UK, Israel, Syria, Northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan.
07:00
TRY
Exports Final
{previous}
$21.08B
{forecast}
{actual}
Turkey's major exports are: machinery and transport equipment (31 percent of total exports), of which road vehicles (15 percent) and electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances (6 percent); manufactured goods (25 percent), of which textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles (7 percent), iron and steel (6 percent) and manufactures of metals (4 percent); miscellaneous manufactured articles (18 percent), of which articles of apparel and clothing accessories (10 percent); food and live animals (9 percent), of which fruits and vegetables (4 percent); chemicals and related products (6 percent); and gold,non-monetary (4 percent). Turkey's main export partners were: Germany (10 percent of total exports); the UK, the UAE, Iraq and the US (6 percent each); Italy (5 percent); France and Spain (4 percent each).
07:00
TRY
Tourism Revenues
{previous}
$12.27B
{forecast}
{actual}
In Turkey, Tourism Revenues is defined as the total expenditure made in Turkey by foreigners and citizen visitors resident in abroad (excluding real estate expenditures, repair-maintenance expenses for residences, durables etc.). Tourism income includes the expenditure on food and beverages, accommodation, health, transportation in Turkey, sports, education, culture, international transportation with Turkish firms, mobile phone roaming expenditures, marina service expenditures, souvenirs etc.
07:55
EUR
Unemployment Change
{previous}
4K
{forecast}
{actual}
In German, unemployment change measures the absolut change in the number of unemployed people in the reporting month.
07:55
EUR
Unemployment Rate
{previous}
5.9%
{forecast}
{actual}
In Germany, the unemployment rate measures the registered unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force. The registered Unemployed as defined in the statistics collected by the Federal Employment Office and based on the register of persons out of work are all those persons who have reached the age of 15 but not yet the age of 65 who have no job or only a part-time job (at present less than 15 hours a week) and are looking for a job subject to compulsory insurance with a working time of no less than 15 hours a week. They must have registered at the appropriate job center and must not be certified as unfit for work.
07:55
EUR
Unemployed Persons
{previous}
2.719M
{forecast}
{actual}
In Germany, unemployed persons are individuals who are without a job and actively seeking to work.
08:00
EUR
ECB Bank Lending Survey
{previous}
{forecast}
{actual}
In the Euro Area, benchmark interest rate is set by the Governing Council of the European Central Bank. The primary objective of the ECB’s monetary policy is to maintain price stability which is to keep inflation below, but close to 2 percent over the medium term. In times of prolonged low inflation and low interest rates, ECB may also adopt non-standard monetary policy measures, such as asset purchase programmes. The official interest rate is the Main refinancing operations rate.
