Source | Office for National Statistics (latest release) |
Measures | Percentage of total work force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment during the past 3 months; |
Usual Effect | Actual < Forecast = Good for currency; |
Frequency | Released monthly, about 45 days after the month ends; |
Next Release | Feb 19, 2014 |
Why Traders Care | Although it's generally viewed as a lagging indicator, the number of unemployed people is an important signal of overall economic health because consumer spending is highly correlated with labor-market conditions. Unemployment is also a major consideration for those steering the country's monetary policy; |
Also Called | ILO Unemployment Rate, Jobless Rate; |
Source | Department of Labor (latest release) |
Measures | The number of individuals who filed for unemployment insurance for the first time during the past week; |
Usual Effect | Actual < Forecast = Good for currency; |
Frequency | Released weekly, 5 days after the week ends; |
Next Release | Jan 30, 2014 |
FF Notes | This is the nation's earliest economic data. The market impact fluctuates from week to week - there tends to be more focus on the release when traders need to diagnose recent developments, or when the reading is at extremes; |
Why Traders Care | Although it's generally viewed as a lagging indicator, the number of unemployed people is an important signal of overall economic health because consumer spending is highly correlated with labor-market conditions. Unemployment is also a major consideration for those steering the country's monetary policy; |
Also Called | Jobless Claims, Initial Claims; |
Source | National Association of Realtors (latest release) |
Measures | Annualized number of residential buildings that were sold during the previous month, excluding new construction; |
Usual Effect | Actual > Forecast = Good for currency; |
Frequency | Released monthly, about 20 days after the month ends; |
Next Release | Feb 21, 2014 |
FF Notes | While this is monthly data, it's reported in an annualized format (monthly figure x12). Existing homes make up the majority of total sales and therefore tend to have more impact than New Home Sales; |
Why Traders Care | It's a leading indicator of economic health because the sale of a home triggers a wide-reaching ripple effect. For example, renovations are done by the new owners, a mortgage is sold by the financing bank, and brokers are paid to execute the transaction; |
Also Called | Home Resales; |