Level of a composite index based on surveyed consumers;
Usual Effect
'Actual' greater than 'Forecast' is good for currency;
Frequency
Released monthly, usually on the last Friday of the current month;
Next Release
FF Notes
The 'Previous' listed is the 'Actual' from the Preliminary release and therefore the 'History' data will appear unconnected. There are 2 versions of this data released about 15 days apart – Preliminary and Revised. The Preliminary release is the earliest and thus tends to have more impact;
Why Traders Care
Financial confidence is a leading indicator of consumer spending, which accounts for a majority of overall economic activity;
Derived Via
Survey of about 500 consumers which asks respondents to rate the relative level of current and future economic conditions;
Change in the price of goods and services purchased by consumers, excluding food and energy;
Usual Effect
'Actual' greater than 'Forecast' is good for currency;
Frequency
Released monthly, about 30 days after the month ends;
Next Release
FF Notes
Differs from Core CPI in that it only measures goods and services targeted towards and consumed by individuals. Prices are weighted according to total expenditure per item which gives important insights into consumer spending behavior. CPI is released about 10 days earlier and tends to garner most of the attention;
Why Traders Care
It's the Federal Reserve's primary inflation measure. Inflation is important to currency valuation because rising prices lead the central bank to raise interest rates out of respect for their inflation containment mandate;
Acro Expand
Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), Consumer Price Index (CPI);
Due to speak at the SNB's General Meeting of Shareholders, in Bern;
Source
Speaker
SNB Governing Board Chairman Thomas Jordan;
Usual Effect
More hawkish than expected is good for currency;
FF Notes
SNB Chairman from Apr 2012 - Sep 2024. Volatility is sometimes experienced during his speeches as traders attempt to decipher interest rate clues;
Why Traders Care
As head of the central bank, which controls short term interest rates, he has more influence over the nation's currency value than any other person. Traders scrutinize his public engagements as they are often used to drop subtle clues regarding future monetary policy;
Percentage of total work force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment during the previous quarter;
Usual Effect
'Actual' less than 'Forecast' is good for currency;
Frequency
Released quarterly, about 30 days after the quarter ends;
Next Release
Why Traders Care
Although it's generally viewed as a lagging indicator, the number of unemployed people is an important signal of overall economic health because consumer spending is highly correlated with labor-market conditions;
