The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases job openings on November 3, the October jobs report on November 6 and the October Consumer Price Index on November 10, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s December 9 decision. Because the November CPI arrives December 10, the October CPI is the last inflation report the Fed sees before it votes.

Key Takeaways

• The October Consumer Price Index is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, at 8:30 a.m. ET, alongside the Real Earnings report.
• The November CPI is not due until Thursday, December 10, one day after the Federal Reserve announces its December 9 decision.
• The October Employment Situation report arrives Friday, November 6, following a September report that showed payrolls up 29,000 and unemployment at 4.2%.
• The Federal Reserve held the federal funds target range at 3.75% to 4% on October 28 in a 10-2 vote.
• The Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes its second estimate of third-quarter GDP on November 25.

The October CPI Is the Final Inflation Reading Before the Fed Votes

The November 2026 economic calendar has one detail that shapes everything else. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will publish the November Consumer Price Index on Thursday, December 10, a day after the Federal Open Market Committee announces its December 9 decision. That leaves the October CPI, due November 10, as the final inflation report on the table when the Fed votes.

The timing raises the stakes for that release. The Federal Reserve raised its target range in September, its first increase since 2023, and then held at 3.75% to 4% in October. Readers following the Fed’s 10-2 vote to hold rates in October will recall that both dissents favored another increase. The December meeting also includes new economic projections, so the October inflation data will feed directly into the Fed’s updated outlook.

Labor Data Opens the Month With JOLTS, Productivity and the Jobs Report

The November 2026 economic calendar starts with three labor releases in four days. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey comes out Tuesday, November 3, at 10 a.m. ET. Productivity and Costs for the third quarter follows on Thursday, November 5, at 8:30 a.m., and the October Employment Situation report lands Friday, November 6, at 8:30 a.m.

The jobs report carries extra weight after a soft September. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported preliminary payroll growth of 29,000 for September, with the unemployment rate at 4.2%. For business owners, the October figures will help show whether hiring conditions are loosening or stabilizing heading into the holiday season, when many small employers make staffing decisions.

Inflation Data Fills the Middle of November

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the October CPI and Real Earnings together on Tuesday, November 10. The government observes Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, and the Producer Price Index for October follows on Friday, November 13. Import and Export Price Indexes for October close out the inflation run on Tuesday, November 17.

The prior readings set a high bar. Consumer prices rose 0.6% in September, and the Producer Price Index for final demand rose a preliminary 1.3%. For small businesses, the Producer Price Index often signals what suppliers may pass along next, while the CPI shows what customers are paying. Read together, the two November releases offer a view of both sides of a business’s margins.

GDP and Spending Data Close Out the Month

The Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes its second estimate of third-quarter GDP, along with corporate profits, on Wednesday, November 25, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The advance estimate showed the economy growing at a 3.4% annual rate in the third quarter, and the second estimate will show whether that pace holds up as more source data comes in.

The Census Bureau’s October retail sales report is also expected later in November. Together with GDP, it gives a read on consumer demand right as the holiday shopping season begins. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, the day after the GDP release.

One Labor Report Still Arrives Before the December Meeting

The November 2026 economic calendar does not end the Fed’s data review. The November jobs report is scheduled for Friday, December 4, five days before the Federal Open Market Committee decision. That means the Fed will see two employment reports, for October and November, but only one fresh CPI reading, for October, before it votes.

What the Calendar Means for Business Borrowing and Hiring

For entrepreneurs and small business owners, the November releases matter because they shape the cost of credit heading into 2027. Many business lines of credit and variable-rate loans move with the federal funds rate, so any December decision flows through to borrowing costs. The October CPI and the two jobs reports will be the main inputs.

Business owners tracking the calendar can line up decisions around these dates. Holiday hiring, inventory financing and 2027 budget planning all depend on where borrowing costs settle after December 9. All release dates are subject to change by the agencies that publish them.

FAQs

When Is the October 2026 Jobs Report Released?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the October 2026 Employment Situation report on Friday, November 6, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

When Is the October 2026 CPI Report Released?

The October 2026 Consumer Price Index is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, at 8:30 a.m. ET, alongside the Real Earnings report.

When Is the Next Federal Reserve Meeting?

The Federal Open Market Committee announces its next decision on December 9, 2026, with new economic projections. The current target range is 3.75% to 4%.

Does the November CPI Come Out Before the Fed’s December Decision?

No. The November CPI is scheduled for December 10, one day after the December 9 decision. The October CPI is the last inflation report before the meeting.

When Is the Second Estimate of Third-Quarter GDP?

The Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes the second estimate of third-quarter GDP and corporate profits on November 25, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment or tax advice. Readers should consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.