Wall Street will receive a bevy of economic reports during the holiday-shortened week. As a reminder, the stock and bond markets will be closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving and will end operations early on Black Friday.
Some of the economic data set to be released will be a bit stale, including the shutdown-delayed September retail sales and Producer Price Index (PPI) reports. That said, Wall Street is keyed into consumer spending and inflation measures at the moment, especially as affordability concerns ramp up.
"Sentiment is at a three-year low amid concerns about jobs, affordability and tariffs," said Target (TGT) Chief Commercial Officer Richard H. Gomez this week in the retailer's earnings call. Meanwhile, outgoing Walmart (WMT) CEO Doug McMillon told analysts that "lower-income families have been under additional pressure of late."
Economic data we're watching
Wednesday, November 26: Initial jobless claims: We're watching to see if initial jobless claims continued to fall in late November.
Read on to see the entire weekly economic calendar of the most important upcoming economic reports scheduled to be released in the next several days. At times, we provide expanded previews and recaps for select reports.
Please check back often. This economic calendar is updated regularly. Bolded reports are those considered more noteworthy. All reporting times are in Eastern Time.
Reports that have been delayed due to the government shutdown are marked with an asterisk (*).
Monday (11/24)
There are no noteworthy economic reports scheduled for release on Monday, November 24.
Tuesday (11/25)
Time released |
Economic report |
Period |
8:30 am |
Retail sales* |
September |
8:30 am |
Producer Price Index (PPI)* |
September |
8:30 am |
Core PPI* |
September |
9 am |
S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index |
September |
10 am |
Pending home sales |
October |
10 am |
Business inventories* |
September |
10 am |
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index |
November |
Wednesday (11/26)
Time released |
Economic report |
Period |
8:30 am |
Weekly jobless claims |
Week ending November 21 |
8:30 am |
Durable goods* |
September |
9:45 am |
Chicago Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) |
November |
2 pm |
Beige Book |
N/A |
Economic data preview: Did jobless claims continue to decline?
Wall Street is keeping a close eye on jobless claims, which will be one of the last major checks on the labor market before the next Fed meeting in December.
"A December rate cut was virtually a foregone conclusion a month ago – one that Fed Chair Jerome Powell attempted to tamp down at his October press conference," says Jim Baird, chief investment officer with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. "The September jobs report – along with any other data that suggests that the labor economy may be stabilizing – should buy additional time for policymakers" as they await updates on inflation.
Initial jobless claims unexpectedly declined in the week ending November 15, though continuing claims, which count the folks already receiving benefits and help to show how quickly they're reentering the workforce, climbed.
Will the number of first-time filers keep falling? We'll find out when the Labor Department releases the latest results ahead of Wednesday's open – one day earlier than usual, given the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thursday (11/27)
Thursday, November 27, is a stock market holiday, with both the equities and bond markets closed for Thanksgiving. There are no noteworthy economic reports slated for release.
Friday (11/8)
The stock market will close at 1 pm Eastern Standard Time on Friday, November 28, while the bond market will end operations at 2 pm. There are no noteworthy earnings reports scheduled for release.
Reporting schedules are provided Forex Factory and MarketWatch.
