Monthly release schedule
October 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
October at a glance
The first listed release is Nonfarm Payrolls on Friday, October 2, 2026. The month includes 8 scheduled major releases, all shown in Eastern Time with the period covered.
Next release this month
FOMC Minutes · Wednesday, October 7, 2026
2:00 PM ET · covers September 15–16 meeting
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October 2026 Release Dates
| Date & time | Release | Period covered | Status | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 2, 20268:30 AM ET | Employment Situation (Nonfarm Payrolls) | September 2026 | Released | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Wed, Oct 7, 20262:00 PM ET | FOMC Meeting Minutes | September 15–16 meeting | Scheduled | Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System |
| Wed, Oct 14, 20268:30 AM ET | Consumer Price Index (CPI) | September 2026 | Scheduled | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Thu, Oct 15, 20268:30 AM ET | Advance Monthly Retail Sales | September 2026 | Scheduled | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Thu, Oct 15, 20268:30 AM ET | Producer Price Index (PPI) | September 2026 | Scheduled | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Wed, Oct 28, 20262:00 PM ET | FOMC Rate Decision | October 27–28 meeting | Scheduled | Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System |
| Thu, Oct 29, 20268:30 AM ET | GDP (Advance Estimate) | Q3 2026 | Scheduled | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
| Thu, Oct 29, 20268:30 AM ET | Personal Income and Outlays (PCE Inflation) | September 2026 | Scheduled | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Why these October reports matter
Nonfarm Payrolls
Payroll growth, unemployment, and wages are central to the Fed’s maximum-employment mandate.
FOMC Minutes
Minutes provide a fuller account of the policy discussion about three weeks after an FOMC decision.
CPI Inflation
CPI is the most closely watched monthly measure of consumer-price inflation.
Retail Sales
Retail sales provide an early monthly read on consumer demand, a major driver of U.S. growth.
PPI Inflation
PPI tracks selling prices received by domestic producers and can signal pipeline inflation pressure.
FOMC Decision
The FOMC statement sets the federal funds target range and explains the Fed’s current policy stance.
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.
October 2026 Calendar FAQs
What economic reports are released in October 2026?
October 2026 has 8 major entries on this calendar, including Nonfarm Payrolls, FOMC Minutes, CPI Inflation, Retail Sales, PPI Inflation, FOMC Decision, GDP, PCE Inflation. Dates and times come from the responsible U.S. government agencies.
What is the first major economic release in October 2026?
The first listed release is Employment Situation (Nonfarm Payrolls) on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 8:30 AM Eastern Time.
Are October 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.