Key Data Releases
The numbers that actually matter
4 sections · 3 quiz questions · ~5 min read
NFP — Non-Farm Payrolls
First Friday of every month, 8:30am ET. Tells you how many US jobs were added. A big beat = USD up. A big miss = USD down. Spreads blow out and charts whipsaw for 30 minutes. Most pros are flat (no trades) through NFP.
CPI — Inflation
Released monthly. Measures how fast prices are rising. Hot CPI = inflation is a problem = central bank likely to raise rates = currency usually strengthens. Cool CPI = central bank can relax = currency usually weakens.
FOMC Decision & Press Conference
Every 6 weeks the US Federal Reserve (FOMC) decides rates. 30 minutes after the decision, the Fed chair gives a press conference. The press conference is often MORE important than the decision — it shows you where rates are going NEXT.
GDP — Gross Domestic Product
Released quarterly. Measures how much a country's economy grew. Strong GDP = healthy economy = currency usually strengthens. Weak GDP = trouble = currency usually weakens. GDP moves currencies less on release day than NFP/CPI, but it sets the long-term tone.
Quick check
Did it stick?
Try to answer each one before you peek at the explanation.
1
When is NFP released?
2
The FOMC press conference is often more important than the rate decision itself.
3
Match the data release to what it measures:
NFP→US jobs added
CPI→Inflation
GDP→Economic growth