The Week Ahead: Interest Rate Decision, PPI Reading

Next week brings the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) interest rate decision, which will be closely watched as inflation concerns swirl in response to the the U.S.-Iran war. Another key economic reading investors will be eyeing is the producer price index (PPI) for February.

A handful of names are slated to report earnings next week, including Alibaba (BABA), DocuSign (DOCU), Dollar Tree (DLTR), FedEx(FDX), Five Below (FIVE), General Mills (GIS), lululemon athletica (LULU), Macy's (M), Micron Technology (MU), and Signet Jewelers (SIG).

Below is the schedule of key market events for the week ahead. All economic dates are tentative and subject to change.

The Empire State manufacturing survey is due out on Monday, March 16, in addition to industrial production and capacity utilization data. 

Tuesday, March 17 brings pending home sales and the home builder confidence index.

The PPI index is due out on Wednesday, March 18, with factory orders and the FOMC interest rate decision also on tap. Plus, Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference.

Weekly jobless claims data is slated for release on Thursday, March 17, alongside the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey, wholesale inventories, and new home sales data.

The week wraps up with the employment cost index on Friday, March 20.