FinTech Glossary

What Is an Economic Calendar

An economic calendar is a schedule of upcoming economic events, data releases, and policy announcements that provide insight into the state and direction of an economy. It typically tracks indicators related to growth, inflation, employment, interest rates, and government policy.

Business Context

Economic calendars help organisations stay aware of events that can influence economic conditions and market behaviour. These events often shape costs, demand, borrowing conditions, currency movements, and overall business sentiment.

Rather than reacting after data is released, businesses use economic calendars to anticipate periods of volatility or change. This awareness supports more informed planning and reduces uncertainty around major economic developments.

What an Economic Calendar Includes

An economic calendar usually tracks scheduled releases such as:

1. Interest rate announcements by central banks
2. Inflation indicators like CPI or WPI
3. GDP growth data
4. Employment and unemployment figures
5. Manufacturing and services data
6. Government budget announcements
7. Trade balance and industrial output reports

Each event is often marked with its expected impact and previous data to help users assess potential outcomes.