Employment Cost Index and Chicago PMI data due Friday

As traders approach another pivotal day for financial markets, a series of crucial economic data releases that could sway market dynamics are expected on Friday, October 30, 2026. The day will feature key labor cost measurements, regional manufacturing indicators, and Federal Reserve commentary that may provide insight into the health of the U.S. economy. Market participants will closely monitor these releases for signals about inflation pressures and economic momentum heading into the final months of the year. Additionally, commodity market positioning data and energy sector activity reports will round out the day’s economic calendar.

Other Important Economic Events to Watch

• 7:30 AM ET: Employment Cost Index – Forecast: 0.8%, Previous: 0.9%. Measures the change in the price businesses and the government pay for civilian labor, serving as a key inflation indicator.

• 7:30 AM ET: Employment Wages – Previous: 0.90%. Tracks wage component changes within the Employment Cost Index.

• 7:30 AM ET: Employment Benefits – Previous: 1.00%. Measures benefit cost changes within the Employment Cost Index.

• 8:45 AM ET: Chicago PMI – Forecast: 54.8, Previous: 58.8. Gauges the economic health of the manufacturing sector in the Chicago region, with readings above 50 indicating expansion.

• 11:00 AM ET: FOMC Member Daly Speaks – Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly delivers remarks that may offer clues regarding future monetary policy direction.

• 12:00 PM ET: Baker Hughes U.S. Rig Count – Previous: 460. Serves as a leading indicator of demand for oil products and activity in the drilling industry.

• 12:00 PM ET: U.S. Baker Hughes Total Rig Count – Previous: 603. Provides a comprehensive measure of active drilling rigs across all categories.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC S&P 500 Speculative Positions – Previous: -142.7K. Weekly report showing net positions of speculative traders in S&P 500 futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Nasdaq 100 Speculative Positions – Previous: 50.7K. Reflects speculative trader positioning in Nasdaq 100 futures.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Gold Speculative Positions – Previous: 199.9K. Breakdown of speculative trader positions in gold futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Crude Oil Speculative Positions – Previous: 89.3K. Shows net positioning of speculative traders in crude oil futures.

Other Economic Events to Watch

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Aluminium Speculative Net Positions – Previous: -1.0K. Tracks speculative positioning in aluminum futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Soybeans Speculative Positions – Previous: 246.6K. Reports net speculative positions in soybean futures.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Corn Speculative Positions – Previous: 286.7K. Measures speculative trader positioning in corn futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Wheat Speculative Positions – Previous: -29.3K. Shows net positions of speculative traders in wheat futures.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Natural Gas Speculative Positions – Previous: -241.3K. Breakdown of speculative positioning in natural gas futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Silver Speculative Positions – Previous: 19.8K. Tracks net speculative positions in silver futures.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Copper Speculative Positions – Previous: 57.4K. Reports speculative trader positioning in copper futures markets.

For further information and the latest updates, please refer to our Economic Calendar, here.