Inflation will be in the spotlight this week.\n<\/p>\n
Two major economic reports on prices are landing just ahead of next week\u2019s key interest rate decision, providing fresh indicators on the cost of living as central bankers debate whether to further lower borrowing costs and investors eye energy prices<\/a>.\u00a0Existing-home sales and other housing data comes as economists are watching for improvements in that market.\n<\/p>\n Investors will also be evaluating momentum in the AI and software sectors,<\/a> with Oracle, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Adobe set to report earnings this week. Dollar General leads a string of noteworthy retail earnings, while Tesla\u2019s Chinese EV competitors are also on deck.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Read to the bottom for our calendar of key events\u2014and one more thing.\n<\/p>\n Inflation Reports Come as Fed Focuses on Prices <\/p>\n Recent indicators have sent mixed signals on the direction of prices. Wednesday\u2019s release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for February arrives after that measure came in lower than expected<\/a> in January. Later in the week, the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index for January follows a December report<\/a> that showed the closely watched inflation indicator rise higher than expected.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n The Federal Reserve is readying for its meeting next week<\/a>. There is division among the central bank’s members over whether to further cut interest rates after the central bank recently voted to keep them steady at its last meeting.\n<\/p>\n Several housing indicators are expected this week, with existing-home sales data coming as buyers have continued to shy away from the market<\/a>. Housing starts and earnings from builder Lennar are also on the calendar. Investors will be watching trade data for the impacts of tariffs, and the latest consumer sentiment survey may show whether the recent Middle East turmoil is affecting spending trends.\n<\/p>\n Oracle, Adobe Earnings Keep Investor Eyes on AI Trade <\/p>\n Oracle’s stock price has been more than cut in half from its September highs<\/a> amid a rout in the software sector. But the cloud computing giant, set to report earnings this week, still has plans for expansion after it recently laid out plans to raise $50 billion to fund AI data center construction<\/a>. Adobe\u2019s report will also provide a look at the software sector\u2019s strength.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Hewlett Packard Enterprise\u2019s report on Monday could also provide insight into AI spending.\u00a0 Analysts said the company\u2019s information technology products and services are likely to be in demand, but the company still issued a disappointing outlook<\/a> earlier this year.\n<\/p>\n Dollar General\u2019s report will give investors information on the retail sector, with the low-cost seller\u2019s most recent report showing that it\u2019s benefiting from price pressures<\/a> in the economy. Soup maker Campbell\u2019s, makeup seller Ulta, and pet supplies chain Petco are also reporting this week.\u00a0\u00a0Competitors to Tesla in the Chinese EV markets, Li Auto and Nio<\/a>, are also set to release earnings.<\/p>\n This Week\u2019s Calendar <\/p>\n Monday, March 9\n<\/p>\n Key Earnings: Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE<\/a>), Casey\u2019s General Store (CASY<\/a>), Vail Resorts (MTN<\/a>)<\/p>\n Tuesday, March 10\n<\/p>\n Existing home sales (February) Wednesday, March 11\n<\/p>\n Consumer Price Index (February) Thursday, March 12\u00a0\n<\/p>\n U.S. trade deficit (January) Friday, March 13\n<\/p>\n Personal Consumption Expenditures price index (January)More Data to Watch: Gross Domestic Product – first revision (Q4), Durable goods orders (January), Job openings (January), Consumer sentiment – preliminary (March)<\/p>\n One More Thing <\/p>\n
\nMore Data to Watch: NFIB small business optimism index (February)
\nKey Earnings: Oracle (ORCL<\/a>), AeroVironment (AVAV<\/a>), Nio (NIO<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\nMore Data to Watch: Monthly U.S. federal budget (February)
\nKey Earnings: Campbell\u2019s (CPB<\/a>), UiPath (PATH<\/a>),\u00a0Petco (WOOF<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\nMore Data to Watch: Initial jobless claims (Week ending March 7), Housing starts (January)
\nKey Earnings: Adobe (ADBE<\/a>), Dollar General (DG<\/a>), Ulta Beauty (ULTA<\/a>), Lennar (LEN<\/a>), Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods (DKS<\/a>), Li Auto (LI<\/a>)<\/p>\n