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Fundamentals

Understanding the Economic Calendar

How to read event importance, and what the actual, forecast and previous values represent.

Educational guide · 5 min read

What an economic calendar shows

An economic calendar lists scheduled data releases and events, typically with the time, country or currency affected, and an indication of expected importance.

Actual, forecast and previous

'Previous' is the last reported figure, 'forecast' reflects a consensus expectation, and 'actual' is the newly released number. Markets often react to the difference between actual and forecast.

Importance ratings

Importance levels are a guide to how much attention an event usually receives. Lower-rated events can still move markets in unusual conditions.

Using it in your routine

Checking the calendar at the start of each week helps you plan around periods of potential volatility and avoid being surprised by scheduled announcements.

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