The economic calendar is the list of dates and times at which official data (jobs, inflation, interest rates, growth) is released, and which often moves currencies, gold and indices. You read it by comparing three figures — previous, forecast and actual — and the expected impact level. It tells you when volatility is likely to rise; it does not predict where price will go.
How to read a calendar row
| Column | What it means | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Date and time | Release time, in the calendar's time zone | Convert it to your city |
| Country or currency | Economy publishing the data | Know which pairs it affects |
| Event | Indicator (for example, CPI or jobs) | Understand what it measures |
| Impact | High, medium or low based on its history of moving prices | Decide how cautious to be |
| Previous | Value of the prior period (may be revised) | Point of comparison |
| Forecast | Analyst consensus before the release | What the market already expects |
| Actual | The real published figure | Compare it with the forecast |
What usually moves price is not the number itself but the surprise: the gap between the actual and the forecast. A 0.4% reading when 0.3% was expected matters more than a 0.4% that was already expected. The numbers in this example are illustrative; always check the real values of the day.
Impact levels
- High: central bank rate decisions, inflation (CPI), jobs (NFP) and GDP. They can cause volatility spikes, wider spreads and slippage.
- Medium: retail sales, consumer confidence, PMIs.
- Low: secondary figures or data from economies with less weight in the pair you trade.
The higher the expected impact, the more care is warranted with position size; we cover it in spread, swap and slippage.
Releases worth marking
| Event | What it measures | Assets it often affects |
|---|---|---|
| CPI | Change in consumer prices | Dollar, gold, indices, emerging-market currencies |
| PCE | Consumer spending prices; the inflation gauge the Fed uses | Dollar and gold |
| NFP (nonfarm payrolls) | US jobs outside agriculture | Dollar, gold, indices |
| Rate decisions (Fed, ECB, BoE) | Policy interest rate and statement | Currencies, bonds, gold |
| GDP | Economic growth | Currencies and indices |
| PMI / ISM | Business activity | Dollar and indices |
Go deeper with US inflation (CPI and PCE) and NFP: what it is and how to trade it.
Times: from New York time to your city
Many US releases come out at 8:30 a.m. New York time (ET). While the US stays on daylight saving time (until November 1, 2026), that equals:
| City | Local time |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 5:30 a.m. |
| Chicago | 7:30 a.m. |
| Toronto | 8:30 a.m. |
| London | 1:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. from October 25 to October 31) |
| Frankfurt / Paris | 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. from October 25 to October 31) |
The gap changes by one hour for a few days because the UK and Europe end summer time on October 25, 2026 and the US on November 1. Also check your broker's server time: MetaTrader usually shows its own clock. The forex market hours guide expands on this.
How to plan your week
- Sunday or Monday: go through the full calendar and mark the high- and medium-impact events for the assets you follow.
- Convert the times to your city and to your broker's server time.
- Decide before the release what you will do: wait for a closed candle, a pullback to a level, or stay out.
- Adjust size and review your stop according to your risk plan; see risk management and take profit and stop loss.
- After the release, review the surprise versus the forecast and do not attribute the move to a single cause just because it coincided in time.
For today's dated agenda, see the economic calendar today.
Common mistakes
- Treating every event the same.
- Ignoring revisions to the previous figure.
- Not comparing the actual with the forecast.
- Forgetting your broker's server time.
- Raising risk right before a release "just in case".
How AIM can help
AIM is the quantitative AI of AIMPATFX. It can help you organize the week's events and relate them to an asset's context (bias, scenarios and invalidation), using the data and sources you provide. It does not give orders or guarantee results: the decision and the risk are yours.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a reliable economic calendar?
Central banks and statistics offices publish official calendars (for example, the BLS and BEA in the US). Always check the time and result against the official source.
Which time zone should I use?
The one in the calendar you consult, converted to your city. Check whether the US and your country are on summer time, because the gap changes.
Is it safe to trade during a high-impact release?
It carries a different risk: more volatility, wider spreads and possible slippage. It calls for a specific plan, not gut feeling.
Is the calendar only useful for forex?
No. It also affects indices, gold, oil and sometimes cryptocurrencies.
Does a release determine the direction of price?
No. The calendar shows when data is due; it does not guarantee the result or the reaction.
Educational information, not financial advice. Trading CFDs carries a high risk of loss. Numerical examples are illustrative. Reviewed October 11, 2026.
