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Stock Markets April 9, 2026 02:00 PM

Inflation Readings, Consumer Sentiment and Factory Orders Headline April 10 Economic Calendar

Consumer Price Index and Core CPI sit at the center of a packed data schedule that also includes Michigan sentiment, factory orders, rig counts and multiple CFTC position reports.

By Leila Farooq
Inflation Readings, Consumer Sentiment and Factory Orders Headline April 10 Economic Calendar

Traders face a heavy U.S. economic calendar on Friday, April 10, 2026, with headline and core Consumer Price Index data scheduled at 7:30 AM ET. Additional releases including the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey, factory orders and a broad set of Baker Hughes and CFTC reports will round out the day, offering fresh data points on inflation, demand and market positioning.

Key Points

  • Headline and core CPI reports at 7:30 AM ET are the primary data releases for Friday, offering monthly and year-over-year measures of consumer price changes.
  • The University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey and factory orders at 9:00 AM ET add information on consumer attitudes and goods demand, relevant to retail, manufacturing and services sectors.
  • A wide-ranging set of mid-day releases - including Baker Hughes rig counts, the federal budget balance and multiple CFTC speculative position reports - provide additional data on energy activity, fiscal flows and market positioning.

Financial markets approach a key data day on Friday, April 10, 2026, as a concentrated slate of U.S. economic releases could provide fresh information about price pressures, consumer attitudes and goods demand. The morning will be dominated by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Core CPI reports, both due at 7:30 AM ET, while the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index and factory orders are set for 9:00 AM ET. A sequence of mid- and late-day releases - from federal budget figures to weekly speculative position reports from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) - will extend the economic flow of information throughout the trading day.

The headline CPI reading is forecast at 1.0% for the month, up from the prior month’s 0.3% figure. The core measure, which excludes food and energy, is forecast at 0.3%, compared with a previous 0.2% monthly increase. On an annual basis, headline CPI is projected at 3.4% year-over-year, up from 2.4% previously, and the core CPI year-over-year forecast stands at 2.7% versus a prior 2.5%.

Each of these CPI measures will be closely watched for evidence about current pricing trends and the underlying pace of inflation. The CPI is described as a measure of the change in the price of goods and services from the consumer’s perspective and serves as a key indicator of purchasing trends and inflation. The core CPI, excluding the more volatile food and energy components, is highlighted as a gauge of underlying inflation pressures.

Major scheduled releases

  • 7:30 AM ET - CPI: Forecast 1.0%, Previous 0.3%. Measures the change in the price of goods and services from the consumer’s perspective, serving as a key indicator of purchasing trends and inflation.
  • 7:30 AM ET - Core CPI: Forecast 0.3%, Previous 0.2%. Measures price changes in goods and services excluding food and energy, providing insight into underlying inflation trends.
  • 7:30 AM ET - CPI (Year-over-Year): Forecast 3.4%, Previous 2.4%. Annual measure of consumer price changes, indicating broader inflation trends over the past year.

Other important data and timing

  • 9:00 AM ET - Factory Orders: Forecast -0.3%, Previous 0.1%. This gauges the change in the total value of new purchase orders placed with manufacturers and includes revisions to durable goods data.
  • 9:00 AM ET - Michigan Consumer Sentiment: Forecast 51.6, Previous 53.3. This index rates the relative level of current and future economic conditions based on a survey of around 500 consumers.
  • 9:00 AM ET - Michigan Consumer Expectations: Previous 51.7. The expectations component of the Michigan sentiment index, reflecting consumer outlook for future economic conditions.
  • 7:30 AM ET - Core CPI (Year-over-Year): Forecast 2.7%, Previous 2.5%. Annual measure of core consumer price changes excluding food and energy.
  • 12:00 PM ET - Baker Hughes U.S. Rig Count: Previous 411. A business barometer for the oil drilling industry and a leading indicator of demand for oil products.
  • 12:00 PM ET - U.S. Baker Hughes Total Rig Count: Previous 548. Total count of active drilling rigs in the United States.
  • 1:00 PM ET - Federal Budget Balance: Forecast -$153.3B, Previous -$308.0B. Measures the difference between federal government income and expenditure during the reported month.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Gold Speculative Positions: Previous 163.2K. Weekly net positions for speculative traders in gold futures markets.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC S&P 500 Speculative Positions: Previous -42.5K. Speculative trader positions in S&P 500 futures markets.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Nasdaq 100 Speculative Positions: Previous 20.6K. Speculative trader positions in Nasdaq 100 futures markets.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Crude Oil Speculative Positions: Previous 213.5K. Speculative trader positions in crude oil futures markets.

Additional releases and subcomponents

Beyond the headline time slots, Friday’s calendar includes several secondary but detail-oriented series that round out the picture of prices, wages, production and market positioning. The schedule lists multiple CPI index levels and non-seasonally adjusted measures at 7:30 AM ET, and a set of detailed factory orders subcomponents at 9:00 AM ET. The Michigan sentiment release publishes additional breakouts on current conditions and inflation expectations.

  • 7:30 AM ET - Real Earnings: Previous 0.1%. Measures wages and salaries adjusted for inflation to assess real changes in purchasing power.
  • 7:30 AM ET - CPI Index, n.s.a.: Forecast 330.40, Previous 326.79. Non-seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index level.
  • 7:30 AM ET - CPI, n.s.a.: Previous 0.47%. Non-seasonally adjusted monthly CPI change.
  • 7:30 AM ET - CPI Index, s.a.: Previous 327.46. Seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index level.
  • 7:30 AM ET - Core CPI Index: Previous 333.51. Index level for Core Consumer Price Index.
  • 9:00 AM ET - Factory Orders ex Transportation: Previous 0.4%. Factory orders excluding transportation-related orders.
  • 9:00 AM ET - Durables Excluding Defense: Previous -1.2%. Durable goods orders excluding defense-related orders.
  • 9:00 AM ET - Durables Excluding Transport: Previous 0.8%. Durable goods orders excluding transportation equipment.
  • 9:00 AM ET - Michigan Current Conditions: Previous 55.8. The current conditions component of the Michigan sentiment index.
  • 9:00 AM ET - Michigan 1-Year Inflation Expectations: Previous 3.8%. Consumer expectations for price changes over the next 12 months.
  • 9:00 AM ET - Michigan 5-Year Inflation Expectations: Previous 3.2%. Consumer expectations for price changes over the next five years.
  • 10:00 AM ET - Cleveland CPI: Previous 0.2%. Consumer Price Index for the Cleveland metropolitan area.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Silver Speculative Positions: Previous 23.9K. Speculative trader positions in silver futures markets.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Copper Speculative Positions: Previous 40.1K. Speculative trader positions in copper futures markets.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Aluminium Speculative Net Positions: Previous -0.9K. Speculative trader positions in aluminum futures markets.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Natural Gas Speculative Positions: Previous -167.5K. Speculative trader positions in natural gas futures markets.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Wheat Speculative Positions: Previous -9.4K. Speculative trader positions in wheat futures markets.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Corn Speculative Positions: Previous 334.8K. Speculative trader positions in corn futures markets.
  • 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Soybeans Speculative Positions: Previous 227.8K. Speculative trader positions in soybean futures markets.

What market participants will see

Friday’s readings offer a multi-angle snapshot of consumer prices, spending and sentiment as well as manufacturing demand and the positioning of speculative traders across major commodity and futures markets. Headline and core CPI figures provide the primary inflation read for the day, while the Michigan sentiment report supplies a consumer-focused view on current economic conditions and expectations. Factory orders add a data point on demand for manufactured goods, and the Baker Hughes rig counts will register activity in the oil drilling sector. The CFTC series compiles the latest speculative net positions across a range of futures markets including gold, crude oil, key agricultural commodities and major equity index futures instruments.

For market participants and observers seeking more detail and the latest updates, the full economic calendar will maintain the running list of times, forecasts and prior figures through the day.

Risks

  • CPI and Core CPI surprises relative to the forecasts could alter market expectations for inflation readings and affect fixed-income and equity markets - this risk is directly connected to data released at 7:30 AM ET.
  • Weaker-than-expected factory orders or a decline in Michigan consumer sentiment may signal softer demand for manufactured goods and reduced consumer confidence, with potential implications for industrial and consumer discretionary sectors.
  • Movements in Baker Hughes rig counts or shifts in CFTC speculative positions could reflect changing fundamentals or sentiment in energy and commodity markets, adding volatility to those sectors.

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