Wall Street Week Ahead: Inflation, Jobs Data in Focus

The Wall Street week ahead brings a packed calendar of updates on inflation, jobs and consumer confidence that could clarify how households are handling higher prices.

Consumer confidence kicks off the week

The reports should offer a clearer picture of how consumers are coping with rising prices across a wide range of goods and services, and whether employment and wages remain resilient. The Conference Board releases its September consumer confidence survey Tuesday, following a year of shaky readings; confidence slipped to a seven-month low in August.

A key inflation report lands midweek

On Wednesday, the U.S. releases the personal consumption expenditures price index for August, a measure closely watched by Wall Street and the Federal Reserve. Inflation remains stubbornly above 3%, and the Fed recently raised interest rates in an effort to bring it down toward its 2% target.

High gasoline prices have driven much of the broader inflation increase, squeezing household budgets and weighing on consumer confidence. The U.S. war with Iran has curbed global oil supplies since late February, pushing up gas prices directly while also raising shipping costs that ripple through prices for food, clothing and other goods.

Jobs data closes out the week

The U.S. releases its September employment report Friday. The labor market has remained one of the economy’s more resilient corners, but signs of strain have grown. Wage growth has been slowing, making it harder for workers to keep pace with rising inflation.