Macro indicators · 11 guides
Macro Education Library
Short, plain-language guides to the U.S. economic releases that move EUR/USD — what each one measures and how markets tend to read it.
In every guide
- What the release measures, who publishes it and when
- How to read Actual, Forecast and Previous
- Why the same number can move markets differently
Labor market
- Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)MonthlyThe monthly change in U.S. jobs outside farming — one of the most closely watched economic releases for the U.S. dollar.Read the guide
- Unemployment RateMonthlyThe share of the U.S. labor force that is out of work and looking for a job — a key gauge of how tight the labor market is.Read the guide
- Initial Jobless ClaimsWeeklyThe weekly number of new applications for U.S. unemployment benefits — the most frequent official signal about layoffs.Read the guide
- ADP Non-Farm Employment ChangeMonthlyA monthly estimate of U.S. private-sector job growth based on ADP payroll data, published shortly before the official NFP report.Read the guide
Inflation
- Consumer Price Index (CPI)MonthlyThe monthly change in prices U.S. consumers pay for a basket of goods and services — the best-known measure of U.S. inflation.Read the guide
- Core CPIMonthlyConsumer inflation without volatile food and energy prices — the measure markets often use to judge underlying U.S. inflation.Read the guide
- Producer Price Index (PPI)MonthlyThe monthly change in prices U.S. producers receive for their goods and services — inflation seen from the seller's side.Read the guide
Consumer & economic activity
- Retail SalesMonthlyThe monthly change in U.S. retail and food-service sales — an early gauge of consumer spending, the largest part of the U.S. economy.Read the guide
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP)QuarterlyThe broadest measure of U.S. economic output — how fast the economy grew or shrank over the last quarter.Read the guide
Business activity
- ISM Manufacturing PMIMonthlyA monthly, survey-based index of U.S. factory activity: readings above 50 signal expansion, below 50 contraction.Read the guide
- ISM Services PMIMonthlyA monthly, survey-based index of U.S. services activity — the largest part of the economy. Above 50 signals expansion, below 50 contraction.Read the guide
Educational content only. Nothing on this page is investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Market reactions are uncertain, and past behavior does not guarantee future results.