What To Expect in the Markets This Week

Fresh inflation data, housing market data, and earnings from meme stock GameStop (GME) highlight this week’s calendar for investors.

The February Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index is scheduled for Friday, while consumer sentiment reports and data on housing sales and prices are also expected. Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) and gross domestic product (GDP) data also will be in the spotlight this week. New York Fed President John Williams leads a schedule of Federal Reserve official speakers this week. 

Investors are watching for earnings reports from discount retailer Dollar Tree (DLTR), fitness apparel maker Lululemon (LULU), online pet supplies retailer Chewy (CHWY), and nuclear power provider Oklo (OKLO).

Monday, March 24

• S&P Global Flash U.S. PMI (March)
• KB Home (KBH) and Oklo are scheduled to report earnings

Tuesday, March 25

• S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index (January)
• Consumer confidence (March)
• New home sales (February)
• New York Fed President John Williams is scheduled to deliver remarks
• McCormick & Co. (MKC), GameStop, Core & Main (CNM), Smithfield Foods (SFD), Pony.ai (PONY), and Rumble (RUM) are scheduled to report earnings

Wednesday, March 26

• Durable-goods orders (February)
• Cintas (CTAS), Paychex (PAYX), Dollar Tree, Chewy, Jefferies Financial Group (JEF), and SailPoint (SAIL) are scheduled to report earnings

Thursday, March 27

• Initial jobless claims (Week ending March 22)
• Gross domestic product (third revision) (Q4)
• Advance U.S. trade balance (February)
• Advance retail inventories (February)
• Advance wholesale inventories (February)
• Pending home sales (February)
• Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin is scheduled to deliver remarks
• Lululemon, TD Synnex (SNX), Braze (BRZE), and AAR (AIR) are scheduled to report earnings

Friday, March 28

• Personal consumption expenditures index (February)
• Consumer sentiment (final) (March)
• Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic is scheduled to deliver remarks
• Zspace (ZSPC) is scheduled to report earnings

Fresh Data Due on Inflation, Consumer Sentiment

whUpdated inflation data, consumer sentiment, housing data and comments from Federal Reserve officials lead the schedule of economic indicators released this week.

Friday’s scheduled personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index for February arrives after the January report showed signals that inflation was cooling. But despite recent declines in the cost-of-living measurement, the Fed kept interest rates steady at its meeting last week. The Fed’s recently released projections also had inflation in 2025 rising above the 2.5% annual rate that prices increased in January.

Consumer surveys will also be in focus this week after recent reports have not only shown declining consumer confidence, but also weakening sentiment among small business owners, manufacturers, and homebuilders. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index on Tuesday follows last month’s sharp decline, while the final March results for the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index come after it hit a low point.

Several pieces of housing data are due this week, coming as home sales remain slow amid affordability pressures in the housing market. The S&P Case-Shiller home price index for January and new home sales data for February are scheduled to come on Tuesday, while Thursday’s pending home sales data for February is expected to deliver a forward-looking view on housing sales. 

Following Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments last week, market watchers are scheduled to hear from New York Fed President John Williams, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin, and Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic who are expected to deliver remarks during the week.

GameStop, Dollar Tree, Lululemon and More To Report Earnings

Meme stock GameStop’s scheduled earnings report on Tuesday comes after the company turned a profit in its most recent quarterly report, despite posting a decline in revenue. The company’s latest update follows recent reports that the video game retailer is mulling investing in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTCUSD). 

Dollar Tree’s expected earnings on Wednesday come after the low-cost retail chain delivered better-than-expected results in the prior quarter. The company’s report arrives after other discount retailers recently delivered positive financial updates. 

Lululemon is scheduled to report its quarterly earnings on Thursday after it lifted its sales and earnings guidance for the just-ended quarter following a strong holiday sales season. 

Online pet retailer Chewy’s earnings follow its report that it is losing active customers, which came as several high-profile investors, including meme stock hero “Roaring Kitty,” have sold off shares in the company.

Homebuilder KB Home is scheduled to report earnings Monday after it increased home deliveries by 17% in the prior quarter. The company’s results join a slew of housing market data in the week. 

Investors will also likely be looking forward to results this week from spice maker McCormick, Nuclear energy firm Oklo, Uniform and business equipment supplier Cintas, and identity tool provider Sailpoint, among others.