The Week Ahead: Inflation Data Hits Amid Retail Earnings

• Major inflation data releases include CPI on Wednesday, March 11 and PCE price indexes on Friday, March 13, which will help determine the Fed's interest rate path
• Notable earnings reports include retail chains Dollar General (DG) and Kohl's (KSS), plus Adobe (ADBE), Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS), Lennar (LEN), and Ulta Beauty (ULTA)
• Additional economic data includes GDP revision, existing home sales, housing starts, jobless claims, trade deficit, and consumer sentiment throughout the week

Market Summary: Week Ahead - Inflation Data and Retail Earnings

Key Events and Timeline

The week of March 9-13, 2026 will feature critical inflation data releases alongside a lighter earnings season, with U.S.-Iran conflict tensions expected to influence market sentiment.

Economic Data Schedule

Tuesday, March 10: NFIB optimism index and existing home sales

Wednesday, March 11: Consumer Price Index (CPI) and core CPI data—key metrics for Federal Reserve interest rate decisions—plus monthly budget update

Thursday, March 12: Weekly jobless claims, trade deficit figures, housing starts, and building permits

Friday, March 13: GDP revision, personal income/spending data, Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) and PCE price indexes, durable goods orders, job openings, and preliminary consumer sentiment

Earnings Reports

The earnings calendar is notably quieter but includes several major retail and technology companies:

• Retail sector: Dollar General (DG), Kohl's (KSS), Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS), Ulta Beauty (ULTA), Stitch Fix (SFIX)
• Technology: Adobe (ADBE), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
• Auto manufacturers: Li Auto (LI), Nio (NIO)
• Other: Bumble (BMBL), Lennar (LEN), United Natural Foods (UNFI)

Market Implications

The confluence of inflation data—particularly CPI and PCE readings—will be critical for determining the Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory. Friday's comprehensive data dump, including GDP revisions and multiple economic indicators, could drive significant market volatility. The geopolitical backdrop of Middle East tensions adds an additional risk factor for traders to monitor throughout the week.