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Economic Data Release Schedule - United States

The most important US economic reports are released by the US Government at 8:30 am Eastern time throughout the month and year. From a trader's point of view, before 8:30 this information is unknown, after 8:30, it becomes information every trader needs to know. Prices twitter to every pre-release 'whisper-number' rumor. Then, at 8:30 am Eastern exactly, the data becomes instantly available on Bloomberg and Reuters Terminals and from news outlets all over the globe.

Speculators of course forget that these key government reports are put together by real people, many of whom are aware of the real numbers well before the release. Also, the fact that every news outlets around the globe reveals the data the moment clocks tick to 8:30 am should tell you that the press has access to these reports before 8:30am.


Economic Data Release Schedule



Scheduled Release at 8:30 am Eastern - set at this time, in part, so data is available to the public before markets open at 9:00 am Eastern. Allowing for the dissemination, and hopefully more rational digestion of economic data.

8:00 am ET, Members of the Press Have Access to the Report - Under an security lock-down, and without access to transmitting electronics, members of the press are allowed access to the pre-release, and use their time to write preliminary articles that will be wired at 8:30 am.

8:25 am ET - members of the press are allowed to power their transmitting devises (mostly laptops with access to the internet), under strict rules not to pre-release any information.

8:29 am ET, Synchronize Watches - Agency employees are in contact the Navel Observatory to confirm the official time, and watch the count-down to release.

8:30 am ET - Member of the press are free to release data, in most cases anyone with access to the internet or cable television may know the release within seconds after 8:30 am.


Key Releases by the Department of Labor:

  • Employment Situation
  • Consumer Price Index
  • Producer Price Index
  • Import and Export Price Indices
  • Productivity and Cost
  • Employment Cost Index

Key Releases by the Bureau of Economic Analysis:

  • Gross Domestic Product
  • Trade Balance
  • Current Account Balance
  • Personal Income
  • Personal Consumption Expenditure


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