Monthly release schedule
May 2026 U.S. Economic Calendar
8 verified dates for employment, inflation, spending, output, and Federal Reserve decisions.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Data and formulas checked September 12, 2026 · Methodology & sources
May at a glance
The first listed release is JOLTS on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The month includes 8 scheduled major releases, all shown in Eastern Time with the period covered.
May 2026 Release Dates
| Date & time | Release | Period covered | Status | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, May 5, 202610:00 AM ET | Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) | March 2026 | Released | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Fri, May 8, 20268:30 AM ET | Employment Situation (Nonfarm Payrolls) | April 2026 | Released | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Tue, May 12, 20268:30 AM ET | Consumer Price Index (CPI) | April 2026 | Released | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Wed, May 13, 20268:30 AM ET | Producer Price Index (PPI) | April 2026 | Released | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Thu, May 14, 20268:30 AM ET | Advance Monthly Retail Sales | April 2026 | Released | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Wed, May 20, 20262:00 PM ET | FOMC Meeting Minutes | April 28–29 meeting | Released | Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System |
| Thu, May 28, 20268:30 AM ET | GDP (Second Estimate) | Q1 2026 | Released | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
| Thu, May 28, 20268:30 AM ET | Personal Income and Outlays (PCE Inflation) | April 2026 | Released | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Why these May reports matter
JOLTS
Job openings, hires, and quits help show whether labor demand is tightening or cooling.
Nonfarm Payrolls
Payroll growth, unemployment, and wages are central to the Fed’s maximum-employment mandate.
CPI Inflation
CPI is the most closely watched monthly measure of consumer-price inflation.
PPI Inflation
PPI tracks selling prices received by domestic producers and can signal pipeline inflation pressure.
Retail Sales
Retail sales provide an early monthly read on consumer demand, a major driver of U.S. growth.
FOMC Minutes
Minutes provide a fuller account of the policy discussion about three weeks after an FOMC decision.
GDP
GDP is the broadest measure of U.S. economic output and helps frame recession and policy expectations.
PCE Inflation
The Fed states its 2% inflation goal in terms of the PCE price index, making this a key policy release.
May 2026 Calendar FAQs
What economic reports are released in May 2026?
May 2026 has 8 major entries on this calendar, including JOLTS, Nonfarm Payrolls, CPI Inflation, PPI Inflation, Retail Sales, FOMC Minutes, GDP, PCE Inflation. Dates and times come from the responsible U.S. government agencies.
What is the first major economic release in May 2026?
The first listed release is Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time.
Are May 2026 release dates final?
The dates are official as reviewed on September 12, 2026, but agencies can revise their calendars. Each table row links to its primary source for confirmation.