The upcoming week will be critical for all global economic watchers. A string of critical financial releases and hearings are soon to occur. On March 24, the UPB S&P Global Manufacturing and Services preliminary PMIs are expected. These three reports, in particular, will set the mood for the whole economic calendar in front of us. The subsequent days will feature pivotal events, including the release of the 2025-26 Federal Budget on March 25 and the RBA’s Monthly CPI Indicator on March 26, alongside several influential economic statements and data releases.
On March 25, the introduction of the 2025-26 Federal Budget will monopolise the interest of policy makers and market players. We look forward to seeing what’s in ICT’s first one. This new document is likely to be a guide of sorts to governments’ fiscal strategies and priorities, laying bare their plans for spending and generating revenue. On the same day, the CBI Distributive Trades monthly report is due out. Analyzing this report will give retailers impactful information about retail sales volume trends in the market.
Here’s why March 26 will be such an important day for economic disclosures. The other change, the RBA’s Monthly CPI Indicator, will be new to Australia—monthly inflation data, usually a benefit for so-called high frequency traders. That important Inflation Rate release is right around the corner. Perhaps more significantly, it will arm the Committee with a better understanding of how price stability affects healthy, stable economic growth. Moreover, the Spring Economic Statement should bring much more context to fiscal policies and economic outlooks. This is why today, all of the US market-watchers will be tuning in to hear these influential speakers. Fed’s Kashkari, Musalem and ECB’s Cipollone are looking forward to exchanging their experiences on monetary policy.
That all changes on March 28, when significant economic data is set to drop all at once. Retail Sales figures will provide critical information about consumer spending behavior, while the Current Account data will reveal insights into trade balances. The Goods Trade Balance release will further illuminate trade dynamics by showing the difference between the value of exports and imports of goods. Another set of highly anticipated indicators are Business Investment figures, which will show us Business’ future growth prospects based on their investment activities.
Look for the final Q4 GDP Growth Rate coming March 28. That will give us a detailed picture of what economic growth looked like for the final quarter. The information is imperative to assessing how well or poorly economies have weathered continued tumultuous conditions. Key conversations ahead Fed’s Barr and Bostic are both slated to speak soon. Their missives can have a huge impact on what the markets expect, and thus what the monetary policy makers should do, if at all.
In this rapidly evolving world of digital currencies, regulatory developments are coming fast and furious. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Crypto Task Force is preparing to conduct a series of roundtables to address these developments. These discussions aim to address pivotal areas concerning the regulation of crypto assets, reflecting ongoing efforts to bring clarity and structure to the burgeoning digital asset market.