Week Ahead: PCE Inflation, GDP, Jobs Report and 16 Fed Speeches
The week of September 28 brings JOLTS, PCE inflation, second-quarter GDP, ISM manufacturing and September payrolls, plus more than a dozen Fed speeches.
The U.S. economic calendar for the week beginning Monday, September 28, 2026, is concentrated in the second half, with inflation, growth and employment data due from Wednesday through Friday. The schedule below lists consensus estimates and prior readings, where available, for releases scheduled for that week; results are not included.
Monday brings the Dallas Fed manufacturing index for September, with an estimate of 1 against a previous 11.6, along with speeches by Fed officials Bowman and Barkin. On Tuesday, the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index for July is expected to show 2.2% year-over-year growth, matching the prior reading. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index is forecast at 89.2 after 88.6, and August JOLTS job openings are expected at 7.23 million versus 7.335 million. Bowman, Goolsbee, Musalem, Williams and Waller are all scheduled to speak.
Wednesday is the busiest day. ADP private employment is forecast at 70 thousand after 36 thousand. August PCE prices are expected to rise 3.7% year over year after 3.4%, with the core measure at 3.3% after 3.0%. Core PCE is seen up 0.3% month over month. Personal spending is expected to rise 0.8% and personal income 0.4%. The second-quarter GDP growth rate is forecast at 1.5% after 2.5%, the goods trade deficit at $115 billion and the Chicago PMI at 51.2 after 47.1.
Thursday features initial jobless claims, expected at 200 thousand after 198 thousand, continuing claims at 1,730 thousand, and the ISM manufacturing PMI, seen at 55 after 54.6. Schmid, Collins, Barkin, Waller, Bowman and Williams speak.
Friday's September employment report is expected to show nonfarm payrolls of 90 thousand after 133 thousand and an unemployment rate of 4.1%, unchanged. Average hourly earnings are forecast up 0.3% on the month and 3.2% on the year. Fed official Logan is also scheduled to speak.
Data
| Date | Event | Estimate | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-29 | JOLTs Job Openings (Aug) | 7.23M | 7.335M |
| 2026-09-29 | CB Consumer Confidence (Sep) | 89.2 | 88.6 |
| 2026-09-30 | ADP Employment Change (Sep) | 70K | 36K |
| 2026-09-30 | Core PCE Price Index YoY (Aug) | 3.3% | 3.0% |
| 2026-09-30 | GDP Growth Rate QoQ (Q2) | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| 2026-10-01 | ISM Manufacturing PMI (Sep) | 55 | 54.6 |
| 2026-10-01 | Initial Jobless Claims | 200K | 198K |
| 2026-10-02 | Non Farm Payrolls (Sep) | 90K | 133K |
| 2026-10-02 | Unemployment Rate (Sep) | 4.1% | 4.1% |
Data: FMP. Figures are close-to-close unless stated.
Neutral market summary for information only; not investment advice.
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