I How to read economic reports

摘要

Economic reports can contribute to major swings in the market and if you don't know what to expect from them, you're trading blind. Here are the most important reports to watch. Nearly every day, a new economic report is released. Some of these reports can rock the market and, if you don't know what to expect, your portfolio as well. However, studying the most important reports and following a few guidelines can help keep your trades on a steady course. One of the most useful measures in determining the direction of the Federal Reserve's fiscal policy is the Consumer Price Index (CPI), released monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI reports changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services. Changes in the CPI represent the rate of inflation and help the Fed to formulate its fiscal policy. CPI also is used as a deflator of other economic series such as retail sales and hourly and weekly earnings and as a means of adjusting dollar values.