How to use the MarketsHQ economic calendar
The calendar above lists every scheduled macro release, central-bank decision and government publication for the coming days across the US, Eurozone, UK, Japan, China and other G10 economies. Each row shows the release time in your local time zone, the country, the previous value, the consensus forecast and — once published — the actual print. Filter by country or impact rating using the controls at the top of the widget.
Why macro data moves markets
Inflation, jobs and growth data feed directly into central-bank interest-rate decisions, and interest rates set the price of every other asset. A hotter-than-expected CPI, a stronger non-farm payrolls print or a hawkish FOMC statement can move the dollar index 1% in an hour, add or subtract 30–50 bps from US Treasury yields, and reprice equity-sector leadership in a single session. Even for long-term investors, knowing when the next print lands is the difference between a planned rebalance and an emotional reaction.
Reading impact ratings
The three-tier rating (high / medium / low) reflects the historical size of the market reaction, not the political importance of the release. High-impact events (NFP, CPI, FOMC, ECB, BoE and BoJ rate decisions) reliably produce outsized moves. Medium-impact events (retail sales, PMIs, ADP, producer prices) matter more in context — for example when they confirm or reverse the direction set by a recent high-impact print. Low-impact releases rarely move majors on their own but can shift expectations at the margin.
Combining the economic calendar with other MarketsHQ tools
- Cross-check with the earnings calendar — single-stock reports around a Fed day often get overshadowed by the macro reaction.
- Open a currency pair in technical analysis to see whether price is sitting on a level that a data surprise could break.
- Use the currency converter at the mid-market rate to measure the actual move a release produces on your base currency.
Economic calendar FAQ
›What is an economic calendar?
An economic calendar is a schedule of upcoming macroeconomic releases, central-bank meetings and government publications. Each entry lists the release time, the country, the previous value, the consensus forecast and — once published — the actual number, so traders can plan around expected volatility.
›What do the high, medium and low impact ratings mean?
Impact ratings estimate how much a release typically moves markets. High-impact events (FOMC decisions, non-farm payrolls, CPI) can move major currencies 50–150 pips within minutes. Medium-impact events (retail sales, PMIs) move markets more modestly. Low-impact events rarely produce a lasting reaction on their own.
›What are the most important US macro releases?
The four highest-impact US prints are the FOMC rate decision (eight times a year), non-farm payrolls (first Friday of each month), CPI inflation (mid-month) and GDP (quarterly, three estimates each). ISM manufacturing/services PMIs and Fed-chair speeches also regularly move rates, currencies and equities.
›How do traders use the economic calendar?
Most traders either flatten positions before a top-tier release to avoid the volatility, or trade the surprise — the gap between the actual print and the consensus forecast. Systematic traders use the calendar to filter out event risk from back-tests; long-term investors use it to track macro turning points.
›What time zone are the events displayed in?
The embedded calendar detects your browser time zone and displays every release in local time, so a US 8:30 a.m. ET release will appear at 2:30 p.m. for a viewer in Central Europe and at 10:30 p.m. in Tokyo.
›Is the MarketsHQ economic calendar free?
Yes. The calendar is free, requires no account and covers the US, Eurozone, UK, Japan, China and other major economies. Data is provided for information only and is not investment advice.