The data that matters most
| Data | What it measures | Typical market effect |
|---|---|---|
| Interest rate decision | Central bank policy rate | Higher than expected → currency up |
| CPI (inflation) | Change in consumer prices | Higher than expected → rate hikes more likely → currency up |
| Jobs report (US NFP) | New jobs and unemployment | Strong → USD up, gold often down |
| GDP | Size and growth of the economy | Strong → currency and shares up |
| PMI | Business activity surveys | Above 50 = expansion |
| Trade balance | Exports minus imports | Big deficits can weigh on a currency |
All of these appear on our economic calendar with the expected (forecast) value and the previous value.
Loading the rest of the lesson…
Questions people ask
Do I need an economics degree for fundamental analysis?
No. Focus on a few key releases, the forecasts and how markets reacted in the past. Our economic calendar marks the high-impact events.
Read next
- How money works
Where money comes from, why it loses value through inflation, how central banks use interest rates and why all…
- Trading the news
How economic news moves forex, gold and indices, how to use an economic calendar, why spreads widen and slippa…
- Technical analysis
Learn technical analysis step by step: reading candlestick charts, trends, support and resistance, moving aver…
Educational content only, not financial, investment or tax advice. Trading forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money. Look up any term in the trading glossary.