As traders approach another pivotal day for financial markets, Thursday, March 6, 2025, brings a series of crucial economic data releases that could sway market dynamics. The spotlight will be on the initial jobless claims report, which serves as a key indicator of the U.S. labor market’s health and could influence Federal Reserve policy decisions.

Major Economic Events to Watch

• 8:30 AM ET - Initial Jobless Claims: Expected at 234K, previous 242K. Measures first-time unemployment insurance claims, offering early insight into labor market conditions.

Other Important Economic Events to Watch

• 8:30 AM ET - Trade Balance: Forecast at -$128.30B, previous -$98.40B. Measures the difference between imported and exported goods and services.

• 8:30 AM ET - Nonfarm Productivity: Expected at 1.2%, previous 2.2%. Measures change in labor efficiency excluding the farming industry.

• 8:30 AM ET - Unit Labor Costs: Forecast at 3.0%, previous 0.8%. Indicates the price businesses pay for labor, a leading indicator of consumer inflation.

• 8:30 AM ET - Continuing Jobless Claims: Expected at 1,880K, previous 1,862K. Shows the number of unemployed individuals qualifying for unemployment benefits.

• 8:30 AM ET - Exports: Previous $266.50B. Provides the total U.S. dollar amount of merchandise exports.

• 8:30 AM ET - Imports: Previous $364.90B. Measures goods and services brought into the U.S. from other countries.

• 8:45 AM ET - FOMC Member Harker Speaks: Philadelphia Fed President to provide insights on monetary policy.

• 1:00 PM ET - Atlanta Fed GDPNow: Forecast -2.8%, previous -2.8%. Provides a running estimate of real GDP growth for the current quarter.

• 3:30 PM ET - Fed Waller Speaks: Federal Reserve Governor to discuss economic outlook.

• 4:30 PM ET - Reserve balances with Federal Reserve Banks : Previous $3.380T. Shows money maintained by depository institutions at regional Fed banks.

• 4:30 PM ET - Fed’s Balance Sheet: Previous $6,766B. Discloses assets and liabilities of the Federal Reserve System.

• 7:00 PM ET - FOMC Member Bostic Speaks: Atlanta Fed President to offer economic perspectives.

Other Economic Events to Watch

• 7:30 AM ET - Challenger Job Cuts: Previous 49,795K. Provides information on announced corporate layoffs.

• 8:30 AM ET - Jobless Claims 4-Week Avg.: Previous 224.00K. Smooths weekly jobless claims data.

• 10:00 AM ET - Wholesale Trade Sales: Previous 1.0%. Measures change in total value of sales at the wholesale level.

• 10:00 AM ET - Wholesale Inventories: Expected at 0.7%, previous 0.7%. Indicates change in total value of goods held by wholesalers.

• 10:30 AM ET - Natural Gas Storage: Forecast -96B, previous -261B. Measures weekly change in natural gas storage levels.

• 11:30 AM ET - 4-Week Bill Auction: Previous 4.235%. Represents the rate on short-term Treasury Bills.

• 11:30 AM ET - 8-Week Bill Auction: Previous 4.235%. Shows the rate on slightly longer-term Treasury Bills.

• 12:00 PM ET - Total Vehicle Sales: Previous 15.60M. Measures annualized number of new vehicles sold domestically.

• 7:00 PM ET - FOMC Member Barkin Speaks: Richmond Fed President to provide economic insights.

For further information and the latest updates, please refer to our Economic Calendar, here .

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.