What to Look Out for in Economic Data This Week (March 30-April 3)

It's a big week for the economic calendar, beginning Monday with Fed Chair Jerome Powell participating in a moderated discussion at Harvard University. On Tuesday, we'll get an updated look at how consumers feel about energy prices. And, on Good Friday – a stock market holiday – the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the jobs report for March.

Economic reports we're watching

Monday, March 30: Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks: Powell, already committed to staying on as Fed chair until Kevin Warsh is confirmed as his successor and to remaining on the Fed board until a Justice Department investigation of the central bank is resolved, will continue to influence the Fed's response to tariffs, inflation and the war in the Middle East for the foreseeable future. Will the Fed chair say anything about any of that?

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues

CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

Sign up

Tuesday, March 31: The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index: The cutoff date for this monthly sentiment survey generally falls between the 16th and the 20th of the current survey month. Confidence was up in February, but that reflected responses through February 17. The March survey will include responses to a Middle East war that began on February 28.

Friday, April 3: Nonfarm payrolls report: The February jobs report showed a surprise drop in payrolls, but the Fed, already concerned about lingering potential effects on inflation due to President Donald Trump's trade policy, must now account for an energy shock emanating from the war in the Middle East as it tries to fulfill the "full employment" part of its dual mandate.

Read on to see the entire weekly economic calendar of the most important upcoming economic reports scheduled to be released in the next several days. At times, we provide expanded previews and recaps for select reports.

Please check back often. This economic calendar is updated regularly. Bolded reports are those considered more noteworthy. All reporting times are in Eastern Time.

Reports that have been delayed due to the government shutdown are marked with an asterisk (*).

Monday (3/30)

What else can the Fed chair say?

"Inflationary pressures are colliding with a weakening labor market, creating the delicate balance we have frequently cited as a primary risk to the economy and markets," Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Chief Investment Officer Brent Schutte observes.

"This tension" was a defining theme of the March Fed meeting, Schutte notes. "The path of monetary policy remains as uncertain as the economic environment itself," he concludes.

Following the Fed meeting, Schutte writes, Powell addressed the energy shock from the war in the Middle East more specifically. “In the near term," Powell said, "higher energy prices will push up overall inflation, but it is too soon to know the scope and duration of the potential effects on the economy."

The Fed will continue to monitor the risks to both sides of its mandate, Powell added. "We are well positioned," he said, "to determine the extent and timing of additional adjustments to our policy rate based on the incoming data, the evolving outlook and the balance of risks."

Tuesday (3/31)

How do people feel about $100 oil?

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index ticked higher in February. Based on the University of Michigan sentiment survey for March, it's reasonable to expect it to print lower on Tuesday as people react to a new war in the Middle East.

"Consumer sentiment fell back 6% this month to its lowest level since December 2025," Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu writes.

And it's all about energy: "Consumers with middle and higher incomes and stock wealth, buffeted by both escalating gas prices and volatile financial markets in the wake of the Iran conflict, exhibited particularly large drops in sentiment."

Wednesday (4/1)

Thursday (4/2)

Friday (4/3)

Will war impact the jobs report?

That's a big question on a rare Jobs Friday when the stock market is closed. It's Good Friday, so there will be no trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq or any other U.S. stock market.

There will be incoming economic data, though. And it's important. But, as Fed Chair Powell suggests, it's too early to assess the war's impact on the employment situation.

"We estimate that nonfarm payroll employment rose 50k in March following sharp swings in January (+126k) and February (-92k)," Barclays Chief U.S. Economist Marc Giannoni writes.

As Giannoni concedes, "uncertainty about our official forecast remains elevated, with various indicators and approaches sending unusually varied signals." He does not, however, cite the war in the Middle East.

Reporting schedules are provided Forex Factory and MarketWatch.

Related content

• Kiplinger's Earnings Calendar
• Kiplinger's Economic Forecasts
• Stock Market Holidays in 2026
• Stock Market Trading Hours