What to Look Out for in Economic Data This Week (November 16-20)

It's set to be a busy week on Wall Street. In addition to Nvidia earnings and the Anthropic IPO, market participants will sift through a jam-packed economic calendar that includes several speeches from Federal Reserve officials — including a Monday afternoon appearance from Chair Kevin Warsh.

We'll also see the monthly retail sales report, which hits ahead of the key holiday shopping season, the minutes from the October Fed meeting, where the central bank kept interest rates unchanged, and the latest consumer sentiment data.

Economic reports we're watching:

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

Wednesday, November 18: Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes: Wall Street is looking for specifics on why the Fed kept rates unchanged in October and what its plans are for December.

Friday, November 20: University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index: The preliminary reading showed consumer sentiment improved in November as inflation expectations declined.

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.

Looking for more timely stock market news to help gauge the health of your portfolio? Sign up for Closing Bell, our free newsletter that's delivered straight to your inbox at the close of each trading day.

Monday (11/16)

Tuesday (11/17)

Wednesday (11/18)

Economic calendar preview: FOMC meeting minutes

The Federal Open Market Committee voted, in a split decision, last month to keep the federal funds rate unchanged at its current target range of 3.75% to 4.00%.

"Economic activity is expanding at a strong pace," the committee wrote in its terse statement. "While uncertainty remains elevated owing, in part, to geopolitical developments, domestic spending has been resilient. Productivity growth is strong, and capital investment is robust. Job gains have kept pace with the workforce, and the unemployment rate has changed little."

And while the FOMC noted that inflation remains elevated, it said pausing allowed time for "the accumulation of more information" to help the committee determine the best course of action to slow the rate of price growth.

The odds of a December rate hike are on the rise after October inflation data came in hot. Wall Street will look to Wednesday's minutes to see what the Fed had to say about the pause in October — and a possible increase to interest rates next month.

Thursday (11/19)

Friday (11/20)

Economic calendar preview: UofM Consumer Sentiment Index

Cost of living concerns "continue to be at the forefront of consumers' minds," explained University of Michigan Director of Survey of Consumers Joanne Hsu when the preliminary Consumer Sentiment Index was released earlier this month. "About 57% [of survey respondents] spontaneously mentioned that their living standards have been eroded by high prices, the highest seen since May and up from 46% in February, just prior to the Iran conflict."

And while sentiment improved from October — rising about 6% month over month in the preliminary reading — it's still down roughly 10% from February, just before the war in Iran started.

Still, the preliminary data showed year-ahead inflation expectations declined to 4.3% in early November from 4.7% in October, while long-run inflation expectations ticked lower to 3.4%.

We'll be watching to see if the final reading, which includes the midterm election results, shows any improvement in consumer sentiment.

Reporting schedules are provided Forex Factory and MarketWatch.

Related content

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