## Why the economic calendar matters
FX prices do not move randomly. CPI, NFP, FOMC, GDP, PMI, retail sales and central-bank speeches change expectations for rates and growth. An economic calendar marks these risk windows before they happen.
## Three fields to read first
First, time: convert it to your own timezone. Second, impact level: high-impact events can widen spreads and slippage. Third, actual versus forecast versus previous. Markets react mainly to the surprise versus forecast, not whether a number looks good in isolation.
## Common events
NFP moves USD, gold and US indices. CPI changes inflation and rate expectations. FOMC decisions and dot plots affect medium-term USD direction. Central-bank speeches can shift pricing for the next meeting.
## Trading method
Beginners should not chase the first candle after data. A safer process is to reduce size before the event, wait for the first volatility wave, then see whether price returns to a key level. News trading is not guessing numbers; it is liquidity-risk management.
