Economic Calendar

Key economic events, data releases, and central bank decisions — with market impact for MENA traders.

🔴 High-Impact Event This Week

US Non-Farm Payrolls — May 2026

📅 Friday, May 2, 2026 ⏰ 08:30 ET / 16:30 GST 📊 Forecast: +185K | Prev: +228K 💱 Impacts: USD, Gold, Oil, Gulf pegs

High Impact — major market move expected

Medium — moderate volatility

Low — minor data release

Beat Better than forecast

Miss Worse than forecast

Meet In-line with forecast

Monday, April 28, 2026 6 Events

Time (ET)	Country	Event	Previous	Forecast	Actual	Category
All Day	🇯🇵Japan	Bank of Japan Policy Decision Apr 2026 meeting Rate expected to hold at 0.50%	0.50%	0.50%	0.50%	Central Bank
08:30 ET 16:30 GST	🇺🇸USA	GDP Growth Rate (Advance) Q1 2026 Q1 2026 Annualised Trade impact may weigh on growth	2.4%	1.8%	1.3%	GDP
08:30 ET 16:30 GST	🇺🇸USA	PCE Price Index (Advance) Q1 2026 Q1 2026 QoQ Fed's preferred inflation measure	2.4%	2.6%	3.5%	Inflation
09:00 ET 17:00 GST	🇺🇸USA	S&P/CS HPI Composite (Feb) February 2026 YoY	4.5%	4.4%	Pending	Housing
10:00 ET 18:00 GST	🇺🇸USA	Consumer Confidence (Apr) April 2026 Index	92.9	90.0	Pending	Sentiment
10:00 ET 18:00 GST	🇺🇸USA	JOLTS Job Openings (Mar) March 2026	7.57M	7.45M	Pending	Employment

Tuesday, April 29, 2026 7 Events

Time (ET)	Country	Event	Previous	Forecast	Actual	Category
03:55 ET 11:55 GST	🇩🇪Germany	Unemployment Rate (Apr) April 2026	6.3%	6.3%	Pending	Employment
05:00 ET 13:00 GST	🇪🇺Eurozone	GDP Flash Estimate Q1 2026 Q1 2026 QoQ / YoY EUR/USD sensitive, Bund yields react	0.2% / 1.2%	0.3% / 1.3%	Pending	GDP
05:00 ET 13:00 GST	🇪🇺Eurozone	CPI Flash Estimate (Apr) April 2026 YoY Will guide ECB Jun decision	2.2%	2.1%	Pending	Inflation
08:00 ET 16:00 GST	🇸🇦S. Arabia	Saudi Arabia GDP Growth (Q1 Prelim) Q1 2026 YoY Prelim Oil vs. non-oil sector split key	1.4%	2.2%	Pending	GDP
08:30 ET 16:30 GST	🇺🇸USA	Employment Cost Index (Q1) Q1 2026 QoQ	0.9%	0.9%	Pending	Employment
09:45 ET 17:45 GST	🇺🇸USA	Chicago PMI (Apr) April 2026	47.6	46.2	Pending	PMI
17:30 ET 01:30 GST+1	🇦🇺Australia	RBA Interest Rate Decision May 2026 Meeting Cut to 3.85% expected	4.10%	3.85%	Pending	Central Bank

Wednesday, April 30, 2026 6 Events

Time (ET)	Country	Event	Previous	Forecast	Actual	Category
03:00 ET 11:00 GST	🇨🇳China	Manufacturing PMI (Apr) April 2026 NBS Oil demand proxy — key for Gulf exporters	50.5	50.0	Pending	PMI
04:00 ET 12:00 GST	🇩🇪Germany	Retail Sales (Mar) March 2026 MoM	+1.0%	+0.4%	Pending	Retail
08:15 ET 16:15 GST	🇺🇸USA	ADP Non-Farm Employment (Apr) April 2026 MoM NFP preview — strong USD reaction	+155K	+140K	Pending	Employment
09:45 ET 17:45 GST	🇺🇸USA	ISM Manufacturing PMI (Apr) April 2026	49.0	48.5	Pending	PMI
10:30 ET 18:30 GST	🇺🇸USA	EIA Crude Oil Inventories (Weekly) Week ending Apr 25 Brent / WTI price reaction — direct MENA impact	−2.4M	−1.0M	Pending	Energy
14:00 ET 22:00 GST	🇺🇸USA	Fed Interest Rate Decision (FOMC) May 7, 2026 Meeting Hold at 4.25–4.50% expected. Press conference at 14:30 ET	4.25–4.50%	4.25–4.50%	Pending	🔴 Central Bank

Thursday, May 1, 2026 5 Events

Time (ET)	Country	Event	Previous	Forecast	Actual	Category
All Day	🇪🇺EU / MENA	Labour Day / Market Holiday EU, Saudi Arabia German, French markets closed. Saudi Tadawul may observe.	—	—	Holiday	Holiday
07:00 ET 15:00 GST	🇬🇧UK	Bank of England Rate Decision May 8, 2026 Meeting Cut to 4.25% expected. GBP/USD reactive	4.50%	4.25%	Pending	Central Bank
08:30 ET 16:30 GST	🇺🇸USA	Initial Jobless Claims (Weekly) Week ending Apr 26 NFP directional signal	222K	220K	Pending	Employment
08:30 ET 16:30 GST	🇺🇸USA	Unit Labor Costs (Q1 Prelim) Q1 2026	2.2%	2.5%	Pending	Inflation
10:00 ET 18:00 GST	🇺🇸USA	Factory Orders (Mar) March 2026 MoM	0.6%	−0.4%	Pending	Manufacturing

Friday, May 2, 2026 — NFP Day 🔴 High-Impact

Time (ET)	Country	Event	Previous	Forecast	Actual	Category
08:30 ET 16:30 GST	🇺🇸USA	Non-Farm Payrolls (Apr) April 2026 MoM Most market-moving US release. Impacts USD, Gold, Oil, Gulf pegs	+228K	+185K	Pending	🔴 Employment
08:30 ET 16:30 GST	🇺🇸USA	Unemployment Rate (Apr) April 2026 Released simultaneously with NFP	4.2%	4.2%	Pending	Employment
08:30 ET 16:30 GST	🇺🇸USA	Average Hourly Earnings (Apr) April 2026 MoM / YoY Wage inflation proxy — Fed watches closely	+0.3% / 3.8%	+0.3% / 3.8%	Pending	Wages
09:45 ET 17:45 GST	🇺🇸USA	ISM Services PMI (Apr) April 2026 Services >55 = USD bullish	53.8	52.6	Pending	PMI
All Day	🇸🇦OPEC+	OPEC+ Ministerial Meeting (Output Quota Review) May 2026 Brent crude price sensitive. Saudi Aramco & Gulf budgets impacted	—	—	TBD	Energy / MENA

Why These Events Matter to MENA Traders

US NFP & Dollar Peg

Gulf currencies are pegged to the USD. A stronger-than-expected NFP print tightens GCC financial conditions automatically.

EIA Inventories & Oil Revenue

Gulf states derive most government revenue from oil. Weekly EIA inventory data is the most direct short-term mover for Brent and WTI, affecting sovereign budgets.

Fed Decision & Gulf Rates

SAMA, CBUAE, and GCC central banks mirror Fed decisions within 24 hours due to USD pegs. A Fed cut directly lowers mortgage and credit rates across the GCC.

China PMI & MENA Exports

China is the largest importer of Gulf oil. A strong Chinese manufacturing PMI signals higher energy demand, supporting oil prices and Gulf sovereign revenues.

ECB/BoE & Euro/Sterling Assets

Gulf sovereign wealth funds hold large European equity and real estate portfolios. ECB and BoE decisions affect EUR/GBP valuations of these assets.

OPEC+ Output Decisions

Saudi Arabia leads OPEC+. Quota decisions affect Aramco revenues, Vision 2030 funding, and the ~$80–$90/bbl breakeven price for Gulf budgets.

Explore Markets

Stocks Currencies Commodities Futures Rates & Bonds Crypto

Get the Latest Updates!

Search

Economic Calendar