The Best Forex Calendar For Economic Events | GhostTraders

The Best Forex Calendar For Economic Events

This is the best Forex Calendar for economic events that is highly customized for forex traders prioritising high impact news and its fully customizable with filters.

🔥 Live Economic Calendar

If you’re a trader, investor, or someone simply trying to stay ahead of the markets, the economic calendar is one of your most powerful tools. It shows scheduled economic events, their potential impact on financial markets, and allows you to anticipate volatility before it happens.

🔍 What You’re Looking At: The Layout Explained

The economic calendar is structured into several columns:

  • Date & Time: When the economic data is scheduled for release.
  • Event: The actual economic event or report (e.g., PMI Flash, Consumer Confidence).
  • Impact: Usually color-coded (like red for “High”), indicating how strongly the event could move the market.
  • Actual: The reported data once released.
  • Forecast: The market’s expectation or analyst prediction.
  • Previous: The last published figure for comparison.

📈 How Traders Use This Calendar

✅ Before the News:

  • Set alerts for high-impact events.
  • Avoid opening new trades right before volatile reports.
  • Use forecast data to build directional bias.

✅ After the News:

  • Compare the actual number to the forecast:
  • Better-than-expected = bullish for currency/stock
  • Worse-than-expected = bearish
  • Analyze market reaction to confirm or reject your bias.

🔴 What Does “High Impact” Mean?

A red icon or “High” impact tag signals that the event can move the market significantly, especially if the actual data deviates from the forecast. These events affect:

  • Interest rate decisions
  • Economic sentiment
  • Inflation
  • Jobs
  • Production

Pro Tip: Not All High-Impact Events Are Equal

Even though events are marked “High,” the actual market reaction depends on context:

  • • Are traders expecting a surprise from the ECB?
  • • Is inflation data already priced in?
  • • Are we in a risk-on or risk-off environment?

Always combine calendar insights with technical analysis or fundamental sentiment.

Forex Trading Strategy

🛠️ Features of a Powerful Forex Economic Calendar

The best economic calendars for forex traders have:

  • Custom filters (choose currency, country, impact level)
  • Time zone sync
  • Live updates for actual vs. forecast numbers
  • Event descriptions and historical charts

This is where our forex calendar stands out — fully customizable, laser-focused on high-impact news, and tailored for forex trading strategies.

How to Trade the News

Before the Event:

  • • Know the forecast and previous numbers
  • • Mark the time — expect spread widening or slippage
  • • Avoid trading seconds before release unless you’re experienced

After the Release:

  • • Compare actual vs. forecast
  • • Watch price action — is the market reacting as expected?
  • • Be cautious — sometimes “good news” is already priced in

📊 Key High-Impact Economic Events Explained

1

Interest Rate Decisions (ECB, Fed, BoE, BoJ)

Why It Matters: Interest rates directly influence currency strength. Higher rates tend to attract investors → stronger currency.

Market Reaction:
• Rate hike = bullish for currency
• Rate cut = bearish
• “No change” but hawkish/dovish tone? Expect volatility.

Tip: Don’t just focus on the rate, listen to the central bank’s statement and press conference.
2

Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) – USA

When: First Friday of each month
Why It Matters: Shows how many jobs were added in the U.S. (excluding farming).

Market Reaction: Big deviations from forecast cause USD volatility. It’s often a multi-pair mover (EUR/USD, USD/JPY, XAU/USD).

Also Watch: Unemployment rate, wage growth.
3

Consumer Price Index (CPI) – Inflation

Why It Matters: Central banks use CPI to set interest rates. Higher inflation = higher chance of rate hikes.

Market Reaction: Higher-than-expected CPI = bullish for currency.

Watch for: Core CPI (excludes volatile food and energy) – often more telling.
4

PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index)

Types: Manufacturing PMI, Services PMI, Composite PMI
Why It Matters: A leading indicator of economic activity and business sentiment. Anything above 50 = expansion, below 50 = contraction.

Market Reaction: A higher-than-expected PMI can strengthen the currency.
5

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

Why It Matters: Measures overall economic growth. If a country’s economy is expanding faster than expected, its currency tends to strengthen.

Market Reaction: Fast-moving but sometimes lagging. More impact if it confirms or contradicts other data.
6

Unemployment Rate & Jobless Claims

Why It Matters: Strong employment supports economic growth, consumer spending, and interest rate hikes.

Watch for: Sudden rises in jobless claims or unemployment can shake markets.

Weekly Jobless Claims (US): Released every Thursday — often used as a short-term sentiment indicator.
7

Retail Sales

Why It Matters: Measures consumer spending, a key component of GDP.

Market Reaction: Surging retail sales = potential for growth and inflation = bullish for currency.
8

Consumer Confidence

Why It Matters: Gauges how optimistic consumers are about the economy. Confident consumers spend more.

Market Reaction: Unexpected drops in sentiment can spook the market.
9

FOMC Statement (Federal Reserve)

What it is: The U.S. central bank’s policy decision and outlook.
Why it matters: Reveals interest rate decisions and economic projections.

Impact: One of the most market-moving events — affects all major USD pairs.
10

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

What it is: Measures total economic output.
Why it matters: The most comprehensive indicator of economic growth.

Impact: Stronger-than-expected GDP can boost a currency’s strength.
11

Core PCE Price Index (Fed’s Preferred Inflation Gauge)

What it is: Measures inflation in personal consumption, excluding food and energy.
Why it matters: The Fed tracks this closely when setting policy.

Impact: High impact on the USD, especially if it deviates from expectations.
12

Trade Balance

What it is: Difference between a country’s exports and imports.
Why it matters: A surplus strengthens the currency, a deficit weakens it.

Impact: Moderate to high depending on surprise and size.
13

Crude Oil Inventories (mainly U.S.)

What it is: Weekly report on U.S. oil stockpiles.
Why it matters: Impacts CAD and oil-sensitive currencies.

Impact: Strong effect on CAD/USD and WTI Oil prices.

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about forex trading, ignoring high-impact economic events is like driving blindfolded. The economic calendar is not just a schedule, it’s your strategy guide.

Learn the events. Filter what matters. Time your trades.

Let the calendar work for you.