--- title: "Release schedule for key US macroeconomic data next week (February 16–20, 2026)" description: "📅 Next week's key economic data and market expectations (including times). All times are in EST / Beijing Time (+13 h). Data expectations are based on current market consensus and forecasts from majo" type: "topic" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/topics/38745898.md" published_at: "2026-02-15T19:57:48.000Z" author: "[欧阳大叔](https://longbridge.com/en/profiles/12946194)" --- # Release schedule for key US macroeconomic data next week (February 16–20, 2026) 📅 Key Economic Data & Market Expectations for Next Week (Including Times) All times are in ET / Beijing Time (+13 h). Data expectations are based on current market consensus and major institution forecasts (e.g., LBBW, Investing.com calendar summary, etc.) LBBW +1 🎯 Tuesday — February 17 🕗 08:30 / 21:30 Retail Sales (January, MoM) Consensus: Approximately +0.3% Previous/Context: December showed no growth (MoM ~ 0.0%) The Wall Street Journal Business Inventories (December) Expectation: Moderate inventory growth (limited contribution to GDP) Scotiabank Empire State Manufacturing Index (February) Expectation: Approximately +7.4 (slightly above previous) LBBW 📊 Wednesday — February 18 🕐 09:15 / 22:15 4) Industrial Production & Capacity Utilization (January) Expectation: Slight growth or moderate Scotiabank 🕙 10:00 / 23:00 5) Leading Indicators (January) Expectation: Slight growth (indicating short-term economic resilience) Scotiabank 🕑 14:00 / Next Day 03:00 6) FOMC Meeting Minutes No specific value, qualitative policy communication (affects sentiment and rate expectations) Scotiabank 🌍 Thursday — February 19 🕗 08:30 / 21:30 7) Trade Balance (December) Expectation: Deficit remains large (trade imbalance drags on GDP) Scotiabank Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (February) Expectation: Moderate expansion range Scotiabank 🕙 10:00 / 23:00 9) Pending Home Sales (January) Expectation: Slight decline or flat (housing demand slowing) Scotiabank 📉 Friday — February 20 🕗 08:30 / 21:30 10) GDP Preliminary (Q4 Annualized) Expectation: Annualized ~ +2.6% (relying on consumption and business inventory contribution) LBBW Personal Income (December) Expectation: +0.4% Personal Spending (December) \*\*Expectation: +0.5%\*\* LBBW 🕙 10:00 / 23:00 12) University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Final (February) Expectation: Approximately 57.3, maintaining stable level LBBW 📈 Typical Impact Logic of Data on Major US Stock Market Sectors 1. GDP (Most Critical Macro Growth Indicator) Expected actual GDP growth ~ +2.6% Technology Sector (Tech): If GDP exceeds expectations (indicating continued economic expansion), it typically supports high-valuation growth stock premiums; if significantly below expectations, pressure due to declining risk appetite. Financials Sector (Financials): Better-than-expected GDP often drives upward revisions to bank earnings expectations (enhanced loan/investment growth expectations). Consumer Sectors (Consumer Discretionary & Staples): GDP acceleration usually benefits consumer company earnings expectations; slowing growth weakens consumption support. Summary: GDP is the core measure of the economy's "overall momentum." If it exceeds expectations, US stock market risk assets (especially high-valuation growth stocks) typically perform stronger; below expectations is more bearish for overall market sentiment. 2. Retail Sales Expectation +0.3% (slight consumption improvement) Consumer Staples: Even if overall sales data is weak, Staples are often more resilient due to stable daily consumption demand. Consumer Discretionary: If core consumption growth is weaker than expected, retail, auto, and restaurant stocks face pressure; conversely, it benefits sector valuation recovery. Technology/Growth Sector: If weak consumption suggests economic slowdown, funds flow to safer assets, potentially reducing allocation to high-risk tech stocks. 3. Industrial & Manufacturing Indicators (Empire / Philadelphia / Industrial Production) Industrial Sector (Industrial): If manufacturing indices exceed expectations and industrial output strengthens, industrial equipment, machinery, and energy companies get a boost. Materials/Energy Sector: Increased manufacturing activity implies higher raw material demand, benefiting the sector's fundamentals. Technology & Financials Sectors: Manufacturing data strength/weakness is often a risk appetite signal; strong data boosts market risk appetite, benefiting growth/high-beta sectors. 4. FOMC Meeting Minutes Core Impact: Rate expectations and risk appetite direction Dovish (clearer rate cut bias): Beneficial for long-term rates and growth assets (e.g., tech stocks, consumer growth stocks). Hawkish (maintaining tightening bias): Bearish for high-valuation sectors, may boost USD and bond yields, beneficial for financials (steeper yield curve benefits bank profits). 5. Consumer Confidence & Personal Spending / Income Personal spending and confidence expectations stable Consumer Sectors (Discretionary & Staples): Improved confidence and spending benefit medium-to-long-term earnings expectations; weakness erodes valuation premiums. Technology Sector: Stable consumer income supports long-term demand for tech products and services, neutral or slightly positive for growth-oriented consumer tech stocks. Financials Sector: Recovering confidence usually improves loan/credit usage expectations, benefiting bank and financial services stocks. 📊 Brief Summary Focus on two types of data for US stocks next week: Economic Growth & Consumption Demand: GDP, Retail Sales, and Consumer Spending → Directly impact market risk appetite and company earnings expectations. Policy Preference Signals: FOMC Minutes → Determine future rate expectations, affecting relative performance of growth vs. value stocks. ### Related Stocks - [TECH.AU - Mirae Asset Global Investments Co., Ltd.](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TECH.AU.md) - [TECH.US - Bio-Techne](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/TECH.US.md) --- > **Disclaimer**: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.