The chart suddenly jumps at a release time and you panic. If you know the basics, you can take that moment calmly.
The conclusion: learn four releases in Japan time (JST). They are the US jobs report, US CPI, the FOMC and the Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Meeting. Price moves can become rough just before and after a release.
The schedules were checked on the official pages of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Federal Reserve (FRB) and the Bank of Japan (checked on 23 October 2026). After reading, you can look up the next date yourself.
Conclusion: learn only four economic indicators first
An economic indicator is not a tool for timing trades. For a beginner, the safe use is a calendar that shows when rough periods may arrive.
The sections below cover what the releases are, how to convert times to JST, how to use a calendar and what to watch around releases.
- Economic indicators are statistics on the economy, prices and employment published by governments
- Start with four: US Non-Farm Payrolls (Employment Situation), US CPI, the FOMC and the Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Meeting
- US releases are usually 21:30 JST in daylight saving time (DST) and 22:30 JST in standard time
- Around releases, spreads may widen and prices may jump
- A good or bad result does not tell you the market direction. Decide your position size carefully around releases
What are forex economic indicators, and how to read the main four
Exchange rates move as the views of people buying and selling currencies combine. Economic indicators are the numbers behind those views, and participants around the world watch them at the same time.
When a published number differs from what the market expected, many traders revise their positions at once. As a result, prices can move sharply in a short time.
Classification of indicators and central bank announcements (a general grouping): Employment indicators cover the number of people working and unemployment, for example the US Non-Farm Payrolls. Price indicators cover changes in the prices of goods and services, for example US CPI (Consumer Price Index). Monetary policy announcements are the policies set by central banks, such as the policy rate, for example the FOMC and the Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Meeting.
Key point on the policy rate: The policy rate is the interest rate a central bank sets as the core of its monetary policy. Attention also goes to the explanation of future policy, not only the decision. Moves after a number or a statement differ every time, and the direction cannot be stated in advance.
The four releases a beginner should learn first (official pages of each publisher, checked on 23 October 2026) are below. If you know who publishes what, news becomes easier to read.
- US Non-Farm Payrolls (Employment Situation): published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); a monthly statistic summarizing US employment
- US CPI: published by the BLS; a monthly statistic showing changes in US consumer prices
- FOMC: held by the Federal Reserve (FRB); the Federal Open Market Committee meeting that sets US monetary policy
- Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Meeting: held by the Bank of Japan; the meeting that sets Japan's monetary policy
Converting release times to Japan time
US releases often come out in the morning in US Eastern Time. In Japan that is night, so it is easy to miss a schedule if you convert it wrongly.
Conversion of 8:30 US Eastern Time to JST (the time difference changes by 1 hour between DST and standard time): In DST, which usually runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November (in 2026, from 8 March to 1 November), 8:30 Eastern is 21:30 JST. In standard time, which usually runs from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March of the following year, 8:30 Eastern is 22:30 JST.
Note on the BLS time format: The official BLS schedule shows both the jobs report and CPI as "08:30 AM". Within what could be retrieved, no time zone was stated. The conversion here assumes US Eastern Time, so check the official calendar again the day before.
Watch the date as well. A release in the US afternoon falls after midnight in Japan, on the next date.
The FRB meeting schedule page does not state the FOMC release time. Check the time on the official calendar.
- DST (usually second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November; 8 March to 1 November in 2026): 8:30 Eastern = 21:30 JST
- Standard time (usually first Sunday in November to second Sunday in March): 8:30 Eastern = 22:30 JST
Key release schedule for 2026 (autumn to year-end)
These are the nearest dates confirmed on the official pages as of 23 October 2026. Schedules can change, so check the official pages again before trading. Times are converted from 8:30 Eastern in standard time.
The US moves to standard time on 1 November 2026. From November, US jobs report and CPI releases are about 22:30 JST.
The Bank of Japan page has a note on the timing of its publications. It states that the basic views on the economy and prices are published right after the meeting ends, the full Outlook Report at 14:00 on the next business day, and the main opinions at 8:50.
Only the October and November schedules could be confirmed on the BLS pages. For earlier months in 2026, check the separate monthly pages.
- Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Meeting: 29-30 October and 17-18 December; check the publication time on the Bank of Japan's official page
- FOMC: 27-28 October and 8-9 December; check the time on the official calendar
- US jobs report (October data): 6 November; 8:30 Eastern (22:30 JST)
- US jobs report (November data): 4 December; 8:30 Eastern (22:30 JST)
- US CPI (October data): 10 November; 8:30 Eastern (22:30 JST)
- US CPI (November data): 10 December; 8:30 Eastern (22:30 JST)
How to use an economic calendar and what to check
Looking up each date yourself every time is a hassle. An economic calendar shows the schedule in one list.
You can use a calendar built into your trading platform or the official schedules of public bodies. The MetaQuotes official help page that explains the calendar could not be opened this time, so check the details of the feature on your own tool's screen.
Step 1: Check the time zone shown. Confirm whether the calendar uses JST, broker server time or local time first. A wrong time zone shifts the schedule by several hours.
Step 2: Find releases for the currencies you trade. If you trade USD/JPY, US and Japanese releases are relevant. A calendar that filters by currency is easier to use.
Step 3: Mark high-importance releases. The importance display depends on the tool or site. Add the jobs report, the FOMC and the Bank of Japan meeting to your plan first.
Step 4: Check the schedule again on the official pages the day before. Schedules can change, so review the BLS, FRB and Bank of Japan official pages the day before you trade. For how the platform screen works, see the MT4 and MT5 basics guide on this site.
- Confirm the calendar's time zone first
- Filter by the currencies you trade
- Mark the jobs report, FOMC and Bank of Japan meeting
- Re-check the official pages the day before
What can happen around releases: wider spreads and slippage
Around a release, buying and selling can suddenly become one-sided and price moves can get rough. If you know in advance what can happen, you are less likely to panic.
Phenomena that can occur around releases (a general explanation; frequency and size differ by broker, period and market): Wider spread means the gap between the sell and buy prices widens, which increases the hidden loss at the moment you place an order. Slippage means the executed price differs from the price you specified, so the order fills at a worse price than expected. A price jump means the price skips intermediate levels, so a stop loss may not fill at the expected price. Stop out means positions are closed by force when the margin level falls, which fixes the loss.
Stop out is the mechanism that closes positions by force when the margin level falls to the level set by the broker. It corresponds to the loss cut in Japanese domestic FX.
Key point: Placing a stop-loss order does not mean the loss will stop at that amount. If the price jumps, the order can fill after passing through your stop price. Decide your position size on the assumption that a loss larger than expected can occur.
Spread widening differs by broker, account, time of day and market conditions. You cannot say flatly that it always widens or never widens. For what happens to a negative balance in a sudden move and how it is covered, see the column on negative balance protection (zero cut) on this site.
- Wider spread: the gap between sell and buy prices widens; hidden loss at order entry increases
- Slippage: executed price differs from the specified price; fills at a worse price than expected
- Price jump: price skips levels; a stop loss may not fill at the expected price
- Stop out: margin level falls and positions are closed by force; the loss is fixed
Precautions around releases and building the check into your rules
Around a release, losses can become larger than you expected. Decide the following three points before you trade.
Step 1: Decide whether to hold a position through the release. Not holding one is also a choice. If you do hold, review your position size before the release.
Step 2: Lower the lot size to keep some room. The larger the position, the larger the loss when the price jumps. Keep room in your margin level.
Step 3: Place a stop loss and understand how orders work. A stop order closes the position when the price reaches the level you set. At release time, however, it can fill away from the specified price.
Checking the schedule is preparation to limit losses. It does not promise profit. Some brokers set rules that restrict new orders or very short trades around releases. Check the terms before using an account; see the column on prohibited practices on this site for the list of restrictions, and the column on stop-out and loss cut calculation for how to work out your room before stop out.
How to set risk per trade is covered in the risk guide, and how leverage works is covered in the leverage and loss cut guide on this site. For trading costs, see the spread and commission guide.
- Do not raise your position size just before a release to win back losses
- Do not leave a position through a release without checking the schedule
- Do not assume you are safe because of a bonus or negative balance protection
- Do not place new orders at release time with thin margin
- At the start of the trading week, check the main releases in JST on the calendar
- The day before a release, re-check the dates on the BLS, FRB and Bank of Japan official pages
- Decide your position size and whether to hold a position before the release period
- Check your account terms for release-time restrictions and the stop-out level
Frequently asked questions
Q. What are economic indicators in forex?
A. They are statistics published by governments on the economy, prices and employment. Central bank monetary policy announcements also draw attention. When a published number differs from the prior expectation, price moves can become large.
Q. What time is the US jobs report in Japan time?
A. The official BLS schedule shows the time as 8:30 AM. Converted as US Eastern Time, it is 21:30 JST in DST and 22:30 JST in standard time. In 2026, US DST runs from 8 March to 1 November.
Q. What is the FOMC?
A. It is the Federal Open Market Committee meeting that sets US monetary policy. According to the FRB official page, 2026 meetings include 27-28 October and 8-9 December. Check the release time on the official calendar.
Q. Where can I check an economic calendar?
A. You can use a calendar built into your trading platform or the official schedules of the BLS, FRB and Bank of Japan. First confirm whether the displayed time zone is JST.
Q. Why do spreads widen when economic indicators are released?
A. Buying and selling can become one-sided around a release and price moves can get rough. How much spreads widen differs by broker, account and time of day. A standard level is not stated on the official site, so check on your trading screen.
Q. Should I avoid trading when economic indicators are released?
A. The decision to trade is yours. Holding through a release can lead to larger losses than expected, so options include lowering your position size or not holding a position. Also check your account terms for release-time restrictions.
Sources and conditions
FX Textbook is edited from official platform documentation, broker-published information and applicable terms where available. Account conditions, services and rules can change. Confirm the current terms in the broker's registration flow before you act.
FX Textbook is an independent information site, not a broker or provider of personal investment advice. Forex and CFDs involve risk. You may lose some or all of your invested capital. No trading result is guaranteed.
NEXT STEP
To prepare for releases, learn order types next.
This guide covers stop orders, stop losses and other ways to place orders that limit losses. You can check how they work before a release.