Read an economic calendar without confusing forecasts and results

An economic calendar combines several different kinds of information: the event time, the economy involved, the reporting period, the previous result, a forecast and the newly released figure. TradingPedia’s lesson explains these columns and the distinction between indicators describing earlier conditions and those watched for possible changes ahead.

For a research worksheet, keep the forecast separate from the official result and retain any revision to the previous period. Confirm the calendar’s time zone before planning around a release. Importance labels are a publisher’s classification, not a promise of a particular price response. A surprise can produce an uncertain reaction, and several announcements may overlap. The calendar is useful for identifying what information is scheduled; it does not establish which currency will rise.

Source: TradingPedia educational material. Reviewed 9 November 2026.