Week ahead: Fed and ECB Decisions, US GDP and PCE Data

Chart of Fed, ECB and Bank of England policy rates ahead of the week of 26 October 2026

The Fed decides on Wednesday at 6 pm UK time, with the ECB following on Thursday at 1:15 pm. The week starts quietly. Germany’s Ifo business climate survey is due tomorrow (Monday) at 9am, with the consensus in our data feed at 89.8 against a previous 89.9. On Tuesday, US durable goods orders and consumer confidence arrive.

Wednesday: the Fed

The Fed announces its decision on Wednesday at 6pm UK time, with a press conference at 6:30pm. Fed funds stood in a 3.75% to 4.00% range as of 23 October, and the consensus in our data feed is for the upper bound to stay at 4%. Microsoft (MSFT.US) and Alphabet are scheduled to report after the US close the same day.

Chart of Fed, ECB and Bank of England policy rates ahead of the week of 26 October 2026
Fed funds (upper bound), ECB deposit facility rate and BoE Bank Rate as of 22–23 October 2026, ahead of the Fed’s Wednesday and ECB’s Thursday decisions. Source: Federal Reserve, ECB and Bank of England policy-rate series.

Thursday: the busiest day

At 12:30pm, the US publishes third-quarter GDP growth and September PCE inflation, the personal consumption expenditures price index. GDP growth was previously 2.2%, and the consensus in our data feed is 3.2%. Headline PCE inflation was previously 3.4% against a consensus of 3.6%, and core PCE, which strips out food and energy, was 3% against 3.1%.

The ECB follows at 1:15pm, with a press conference at 1:45pm. The deposit facility rate was 2.5% and the main refinancing rate 2.65% as of 23 October, and the feed expects no change in either. After the close, Lloyds, Shell and Amazon are all scheduled to report.

Friday and the Bank of England

Friday brings euro-area and German third-quarter GDP, German inflation and the US employment cost index.

The Bank of England’s Bank Rate is 3.75%, and there is no decision until the 5th of November.

Key events, UK time

Day UK time Event Previous Consensus
Mon 26 Oct 09:00 DE Ifo business climate 89.9 89.8
Mon 26 Oct 11:00 UK CBI Distributive Trades -55 -47
Mon 26 Oct 14:30 US Dallas Fed Manufacturing 9.8 7
Tue 27 Oct 12:30 US Durable Goods (Sep, mom) 1.8 0.6
Tue 27 Oct 14:00 US CB Consumer Confidence 81.9 80.5
Tue 27 Oct 14:00 US New Home Sales (mom) 6.4 -3.5
Tue 27 Oct 17:00 Lagarde speech – no consensus
Wed 28 Oct 07:00 DE GfK consumer climate -30.6 -29.1
Wed 28 Oct 18:00 Fed decision (upper bound) 4% 4%
Wed 28 Oct 18:30 Fed press conference – no consensus
Thu 29 Oct 10:00 EU Economic Sentiment 97.9 97.2
Thu 29 Oct 12:30 US GDP Q3 (qoq) 2.2% 3.2%
Thu 29 Oct 12:30 US Core PCE (yoy) 3% 3.1%
Thu 29 Oct 12:30 US PCE (yoy) 3.4% 3.6%
Thu 29 Oct 12:30 US Initial Jobless Claims 194 196
Thu 29 Oct 13:15 ECB decision (MRO) 2.65% 2.65%
Thu 29 Oct 13:15 ECB deposit facility rate 2.5% 2.5%
Thu 29 Oct 13:45 ECB press conference – no consensus
Fri 30 Oct 07:00 UK Nationwide House Prices (mom) -0.2 -0.2
Fri 30 Oct 09:00 DE GDP Q3 (qoq) 0.3% 0.1%
Fri 30 Oct 10:00 EU GDP Q3 (qoq) 0.6% 0.2%
Fri 30 Oct 10:00 EU Unemployment 6.4% 6.4%
Fri 30 Oct 12:30 US Employment Cost Index (qoq) 0.9 0.8
Fri 30 Oct 13:00 DE Inflation (yoy) 3.3% 3.3%
Fri 30 Oct 13:45 US Chicago PMI 58.8 55.9

Thursday carries the most rows, with the US GDP and PCE releases and the ECB decision all landing within about an hour of each other.

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