What’s Ahead: Macroeconomic Schedule for May 12–16, 2025

This week brings key events including U.S. inflation data, GDP releases from the UK and Eurozone, and a speech by Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Heightened volatility is expected in currency pairs that include USD, GBP, and EUR.

Monday, May 12

Eurozone:
● At 10:00 a.m. GMT — Eurogroup meeting. Possible remarks on inflation and the broader economy may trigger short-term volatility in the euro.

United Kingdom:
● At 12:50 p.m. GMT — Speech by the member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England, Catherine L. Mann. Comments on inflation and interest rates may affect the pound's movement.

Tuesday, May 13

United Kingdom:
● At 6:00 a.m. GMT — Employment change (3m/3m, March) and Unemployment rate (March). Labor market data is key for the Bank of England's policy. Any surprises may cause sharp moves in GBP.

Eurozone:
● At 9:00 a.m. GMT — ZEW Economic Sentiment Index (May). Reflects investor expectations for economic conditions. Divergence from forecasts can cause notable EUR movement.

United States:
● At 12:30 p.m. GMT — Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April (monthly and annual). This is the key inflation metric. Higher-than-expected figures can raise interest rate hike expectations and strengthen the dollar.

Wednesday, May 14

Germany:
● At 6:00 a.m. GMT — Consumer Price Index (month-over-month, April). A preliminary read on inflation that can impact EUR and ECB rate expectations.

United States:
● At 2:30 p.m. GMT — Crude oil inventories. Impacts oil prices and commodity currencies like CAD. Rising inventories may pressure oil and the Canadian dollar.

Thursday, May 15

United Kingdom:
● At 6:00 a.m. GMT — GDP for Q1 (monthly, quarterly, and annual). A full data set on the UK economy. Strong numbers support the pound; weak ones could drag it down.

Eurozone:
● At 9:00 a.m. GMT — GDP for Q1 (quarterly and annual). A key indicator of the pace of economic recovery in the eurozone. It influences EUR and broader market sentiment.

United States:
● At 12:30 p.m. GMT — Key data releases: Core Retail Sales (month-over-month, April), Initial Jobless Claims, Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (May). A comprehensive view of the US economy: consumer demand, labor market, and manufacturing. Strong data supports USD.
● At 12:40 p.m. GMT — Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks. This could be the most market-moving event of the week. Any hints regarding future policy may trigger sharp dollar volatility.

Japan:
● At 11:50 p.m. GMT — GDP for Q1 (QoQ). An assessment of Japan’s economic health. This may influence JPY and regional markets.

Friday, May 16

United States:
● At 2:00 p.m. GMT — University of Michigan Consumer Expectations Index (May). It gauges consumer outlook and can impact the stock market and the dollar through sentiment on future spending.

Tips for traders

● USD pairs: Keep a close eye on Tuesday’s CPI release and Thursday’s retail sales data from the US. Both are high-impact events. Additionally, Fed Chair Powell’s speech on Thursday may trigger strong volatility in dollar pairs.
● GBP pairs: Focus on the UK labor market data early in the week and GDP figures on Thursday. These reports have the potential to drive significant movement in the pound.
● EUR pairs: Monitor the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index and Eurozone GDP data in the first half of the week. These indicators could shape the euro’s trajectory for the days ahead.
● Commodities: Wednesday’s US crude oil inventory report may affect oil prices and commodity-linked currencies like the Canadian dollar. Login in Personal Account