Short Description: A holiday-shortened week holds major economic clues. Follow Walmart’s earnings, key inflation data from the PCE report, and big investor moves via 13F filings.
Read Time: 3 minutes, 15 seconds
Main Article
U.S. markets reopen Tuesday after Presidents Day, launching into a pivotal, data-packed week for investors. A flurry of key economic indicators and major corporate earnings will test the market’s momentum, with a specific focus on inflation trends and consumer health.
The week’s economic calendar is headlined by Friday’s release of the December **Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index**, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge. This report, delayed by the government shutdown, is highly anticipated as it could influence the Fed’s **interest rates** path. Investors will also parse the minutes from the Fed’s January meeting for further clues on policy. Thursday brings the first look at Q4 Gross Domestic Product (GDP), alongside crucial updates on housing starts, new home sales, and durable-goods orders, painting a broad picture of economic activity.
Corporate earnings take center stage with **Walmart**’s quarterly report on Thursday, the first under new CEO John Furner. As a bellwether for consumer spending, its results are critical. The **13F filings** season also begins, revealing how major investors like Berkshire Hathaway adjusted their portfolios in Q4. Other notable earnings include John Deere, a key read on the agricultural sector, and tech names like Palo Alto Networks and Analog Devices, rounding out a week dense with market-moving catalysts.
Short Summary
This week, investors will digest critical inflation data from the PCE report and GDP readings while analyzing Walmart’s earnings for consumer health clues. The start of the 13F filing season and reports from industrial and tech giants will provide further direction, making for a consequential period in assessing the U.S. economic and market outlook.
