As traders approach another pivotal day for financial markets, Tuesday, February 10, 2026, will bring several crucial economic releases that could sway market dynamics. The U.S. retail sales and core retail sales figures will take center stage, offering key insights into consumer spending patterns and overall economic health. These major indicators will be complemented by the weekly API crude oil inventory report, providing essential data for energy market participants.
Major Economic Events to Watch
- 8:30 AM ET - Retail Sales (Forecast:0.4%, Previous: 0.6%): This key indicator measures the total value change in retail sales and serves as the primary gauge of consumer spending, which drives the majority of U.S. economic activity.
- 8:30 AM ET - Core Retail Sales (Forecast:0.4%, Previous: 0.5%): This measurement excludes automobile sales, providing a clearer picture of underlying consumer spending trends across other retail sectors.
Other Important Economic Events to Watch
- 8:15 AM ET - ADP Employment Change Weekly (Previous:7.75K): Provides the most current view of private sector employment changes, often considered a precursor to the official BLS employment figures.
- 8:30 AM ET - Import Price Index (Forecast:0.1%, Previous: 0.4%): Measures price changes in imported goods and services, offering insights into inflation pressures from foreign sources.
- 8:30 AM ET - Export Price Index (Forecast:0.1%, Previous: 0.5%): Tracks price changes of U.S. export goods, helping determine if export increases represent volume or price changes.
- 8:30 AM ET - Employment Cost Index (Forecast:0.8%, Previous: 0.8%): Measures changes in the price businesses and government pay for civilian labor, a key inflation indicator.
- 8:30 AM ET - Retail Control (Previous:0.4%): A component of retail sales that feeds directly into GDP calculations.
- 10:00 AM ET - Business Inventories (Forecast:0.2%, Previous: 0.3%): Measures changes in the value of unsold goods held by manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers.
- 10:00 AM ET - Retail Inventories Ex Auto (Previous:0.3%): Tracks retail inventory levels excluding the volatile automotive sector.
- 11:30 AM ET - Atlanta Fed GDPNow (Forecast:4.2%, Previous: 4.2%): Provides a running estimate of real GDP growth based on available economic data for the current quarter.
- 12:00 PM ET - EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook: Offers forecasts for consumption, supply, trade, and prices across major fuel types with in-depth market analysis.
- 1:00 PM ET - 3-Year Note Auction (Previous:3.609%): Treasury auction that provides insight into investor demand for government debt.
- 4:30 PM ET - API Weekly Crude Stock (Previous:-11.100M): Reports inventory levels of U.S. crude oil, gasoline, and distillates, providing an overview of petroleum demand.
Other Economic Events to Watch
- 6:00 AM ET - NFIB Small Business Optimism (Forecast:99.9, Previous: 99.5): Indicates the health of small businesses in the U.S., which account for roughly 50% of the nation's private workforce.
- 7:00 AM ET - CB Employment Trends Index (Previous:104.27): Aggregates eight labor-market indicators to provide a comprehensive view of employment trends.
- 8:30 AM ET - Retail Sales (Year-over-Year) (Previous:3.33%): Annual comparison showing longer-term retail sales trends.
- 8:30 AM ET - Import Price Index (Year-over-Year) (Forecast:0.2%, Previous: 0.1%): Annual measurement of import price changes.
- 8:30 AM ET - Export Price Index (Year-over-Year) (Previous:3.3%): Annual measurement of export price changes.
- 8:30 AM ET - Employment Wages (Previous:0.80%): Tracks changes in wage compensation.
- 8:30 AM ET - Employment Benefits (Previous:0.80%): Measures changes in the cost of employee benefits.
- 8:55 AM ET - Redbook (Previous:6.7%): Sales-weighted year-over-year same-store sales growth in large U.S. general merchandise retailers.
- 8:30 AM ET - Retail Sales Ex Gas/Autos (Previous:0.4%): Retail sales excluding the volatile gas and auto components, showing underlying demand patterns.
- 1:00 PM ET - Fed Logan Speaks: Dallas Fed President Lorie K. Logan will deliver remarks that may provide insights into monetary policy direction.