Most Watched Economic Indicators

For financial market participants, the most watched economic indicators are the ones with very high market sensitivity. There are:

1. Employment situation (http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm)
Release time: 8.30am(ET); generally announced on the first Friday of each month and covers the month just concluded
Remark: Pay attention to unemployment rate

2. ISM Index on Manufacturing (http://www.ism.ws/ISMReport/index.cfm)
Release time: 10.00am(ET); released on the first business day after the reporting month
Remark: less than 43 (recession); 43~50 (contracting); 50~60 (expanding); greater than 60 (economy is booming)

3. CPI (http://www.bls.gov/cpi)
Release time: 8.30am(ET); released on the second or third week following the month being covered
Remark: Pay attention to CPI-U

4. PPI (http://www.bls.gov/ppi)
Release time: 8.30am(ET); released on the second or third week following the month being covered
Remark: Pay attention to finished goods index

Last, and perhaps the most important of all is the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement. Normally release at 2.15pm on the day FOMC concludes its meeting. Decision on the target fed funds rate will be made. The whole financial market virtually comes to a standstill eagerly awaiting the target fed funds rate. Any deviations from market expectation will undoubtedly moves the financial market accordingly and sometimes substantially.