Publication date: February 27, 2026

Outlook: labor figures US

In Money Care's weekend report, we provide an overview of macroeconomic developments that could potentially cause additional movement in financial markets in the coming week.

Review of the past week

The financial markets experienced a relatively quiet week that ended slightly positive overall. On the macroeconomic front, there were no major surprises. For example, inflation in the European Union remained as expected at 1.7% annualized in January. Economic growth in Germany was 0.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025, as expected.

Wednesday evening at 10 p.m. Nvidia presented its figures for the fourth quarter of 2025. The company managed to exceed the high expectations and the stock initially posted a nice price gain but had to give back most of the gains later in the week.

Upcoming week:

The coming week is dominated by the February monthly labor figures (NFP) for the US. The earlier release for January showed that the labor market in the US had picked up substantially in that month. However, a sharp negative correction took place on the 2025 figures.

Following the strong January figures, analysts expect a modest increase in the number of new jobs in February. The consensus is currently at 70,000 to 80,000 new jobs. In January, an increase of 130,000 new jobs was still published.

The development of the labor market and inflation trends are the main guides for the Federal Reserve in its interest rate policy. The Trump administration wants to cut interest rates further, despite slightly rising inflation. The Federal Reserve is cautious because of inflation. If the NFP for February shows a moderate development in the labor market, there could possibly still be more room for an interest rate cut in the U.S.. This would have a positive impact on equity markets. The Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) will be announced at 2:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon.

Stock market agenda week 10

The following is an overview of the most important macroeconomic publications for the coming week. These figures may cause additional volatility in financial markets.

Monday, March 2, 2026:

Tuesday, March 3, 2026:

Europe

• 11:00 Consumer Price Index February
  
  

Wednesday, March 4, 2026:

United States:

• 15:45 Services Purchasing Managers' Index February
  
  

Thursday, March 5, 2026:

No major macroeconomic figures

Friday, March 6, 2026:

United States:

• 13:30 Retail sales January
• 14:30 New nonfarm jobs February
• 14:30 Unemployment rate February
• 14:30 Average hourly earnings February

Please note that publication dates and times may change. Please consult the official communication channels of the relevant institutions and governments for the most up-to-date information.

Disclaimer: Investing involvesrisks. Our analysts are not financial advisors. Always consult an advisor when making financial decisions. The information and tips provided on this website are based on our analysts' own insights and experiences. They are therefore for educational purposes only.