The Week Ahead: Key Economic Events to Watch for April 13- 17, 2026

This week’s calendar features several high-impact economic releases that could drive volatility across the US dollar, Australian dollar, and British pound. Traders will be watching US inflation and labor market data, crude oil inventories, Australia’s employment report, and UK monthly GDP for fresh signals on economic momentum, inflation pressures, and possible policy expectations. Alongside these macro events, a busy earnings schedule from major banks, Netflix, and PepsiCo could also shape broader market sentiment.

High Impact Economic Events

Tuesday 15:30 (GMT+3) – USA: PPI m/m (USD)

Wednesday 17:30 (GMT+3) – USA: Crude Oil Inventories (USD)

Thursday 04:30 am (GMT+3) – Australia: Employment Change (AUD)

Thursday 09:00 am (GMT3) – UK: GDP m/m (GBP)

Thursday 15:30 (GMT+3) – USA: Unemployment Claims (USD)

Tuesday, April 14

15:30 – USA: PPI m/m (USD)

The Producer Price Index (PPI) measures the average change in prices received by producers for goods, services, and construction. The PPI covers a broad range of industries and is used alongside other economic indicators like the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures price changes from the buyer’s perspective. Growth in the index can have a positive effect on dollar quotes.

February 2026 US producer prices rose faster, with the Producer Price Index for final demand up 0.7% on the month after gains of 0.5% in January and 0.4% in December. On an annual basis, final demand prices increased 3.4%, matching the largest 12-month rise since February 2025.

The increase was driven by both services and goods. Final demand services rose 0.5%, led by a 5.7% jump in traveler accommodation services, along with gains in food and alcohol wholesaling, financial services, fuels retailing, trucking, and inpatient care. Final demand goods climbed 1.1%, the biggest monthly gain since August 2023, helped by strong increases in food prices (+2.4%) and energy (+2.3%).

Core producer prices, excluding foods, energy, and trade services, rose 0.5% for a tenth straight month and were up 3.5% from a year earlier, showing underlying price pressures remained firm.

Economists expect the upcoming PPI report to show a 1.2% increase in final demand producer prices.

Wednesday, April 15

17:30 – USA: Crude Oil Inventories (USD)

The Crude Oil Stocks Change Indicator is published weekly by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). It gauges the volume (barrels) of commercial crude oil held by US companies, influencing global oil prices. Increasing stocks signal reduced oil demand, potentially leading to a decline in oil barrel prices.

US crude oil inventories rose by 3.1 million barrels in the week ending April 3, 2026, reaching 464.7 million barrels, about 2% above the five-year average. Gasoline inventories fell by 1.6 million barrels, while distillate stocks dropped by 3.1 million barrels and remained 5% below the seasonal average.

Refinery runs eased slightly, with utilization at 92%, while crude imports declined to 6.3 million barrels per day. Over the past four weeks, total products supplied rose 6.3% year over year, with gasoline and distillate demand higher but jet fuel demand lower.

Thursday, April 16

04:30 am – Australia: Employment Change (AUD)

The Australian Employment Change tracks the monthly variation in the number of officially employed individuals in the country. An increase in employment indicates a stronger labor market and can positively influence the value of the Australian dollar.

Australia’s employment rose by 48,900 in February 2026 to a record 14.75 million, beating expectations and marking a third straight monthly increase. A sharp rise in part-time jobs drove the gain, while full-time employment declined.

The labor market remained resilient overall, with the participation rate edging up to 66.9% and the employment-to-population ratio holding steady at 64.0%. Compared with a year earlier, total employment was up by 264,700, or 1.8%.

Economists expect Australian employment to rise by 17,900 in the next release.

09:00 am – UK: GDP m/m (GBP)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures a country’s economic size and health over time, typically quarterly or annually. It can be calculated by totaling the value of goods and services produced, income earned, or spending. Household spending is the largest component, making up about two-thirds of GDP. Growth in GDP signals an expanding economy, but it doesn’t capture all aspects of economic well-being.

UK GDP was flat in January 2026 after growth of 0.1% in December and 0.2% in November. Within the month, services showed no growth, production slipped 0.1%, and construction rose 0.2%.

Over the three months to January, the economy grew by 0.2%, improving from 0.1% growth in the three months to December. The main support came from production, which rose 1.3%, while services increased 0.2% and construction fell 2.0%. Compared with a year earlier, GDP was 0.8% higher in January and up 0.9% on a three-month basis.

Economists expect UK monthly GDP to grow by 0.1% in the upcoming release.

15:30 – USA: Unemployment Claims (USD)

An initial claim is filed by an unemployed individual seeking eligibility for unemployment insurance after leaving a job. This count serves as a leading economic indicator, reflecting labor market conditions.

US initial jobless claims rose by 16,000 to 219,000 in the week ending April 4, while the four-week moving average edged up to 209,500. Despite the increase in new claims, the broader labor market remained firm.

Continuing claims fell by 38,000 to 1.794 million in the week ending March 28, the lowest level since May 2024, while the insured unemployment rate held steady at 1.2%. The four-week average for continuing claims also declined, pointing to ongoing labor market resilience.

Economists expect initial jobless claims to come in at 215,000 in the upcoming report.

Company Earnings (April 13 – 17)

Monday, April 13: GS (The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.)

Tuesday, April 14: JPM (JPMorgan Chase & Co.)

Tuesday, April 14: JNJ (Johnson & Johnson)

Tuesday, April 14: C (Citigroup Inc.)

Tuesday, April 14: WFC (Wells Fargo & Company)

Tuesday, April 14: BLK (BlackRock, Inc.)

Wednesday, April 15: BAC (Bank of America Corporation)

Wednesday, April 15: MS (Morgan Stanley)

Thursday, April 16: NFLX (Netflix, Inc.)

Thursday, April 16: PEP (PepsiCo, Inc.)

Conclusion

In summary, the week ahead brings a mix of key macroeconomic releases and major earnings reports that could set the tone across currency, commodity, and equity markets. With US inflation, labor, and oil data in focus alongside Australian employment and UK GDP, traders should be prepared for event-driven volatility and shifting sentiment as fresh data offers new clues on global economic conditions.