The US stock market week ahead, October 12–16, 2026, is built around three themes: the start of third-quarter bank earnings, the September consumer price index on Wednesday and a steady run of Federal Reserve speakers. US stock exchanges are open on Monday for Columbus Day, while the bond market is closed and few major data releases are scheduled.
Bank earnings kick off the season
JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Wells Fargo report before the open on Tuesday, October 13, together with Johnson & Johnson and UnitedHealth. On Wednesday, October 14, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and BlackRock follow. Thursday brings Charles Schwab and Taiwan Semiconductor.
Readers following the banks usually look at net interest income, loan growth, provisions for credit losses and investment-banking and trading revenue. Together they show how consumers, companies and financial markets are performing. TSMC’s full third-quarter report is also watched as a read on demand for advanced chips.
September CPI is the key inflation reading
The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September consumer prices at 8:30 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, October 14. Forecasts point to headline CPI rising 0.6% on the month and 3.6% from a year earlier, up from 3.4% in August. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, is forecast to rise 0.2% on the month and 2.5% on the year, compared with 2.4% previously. Producer prices for September follow on Thursday.
Because the headline number includes energy, readers typically compare it with the core reading to see how much of inflation comes from fuel and how much from underlying prices. Our explainer on why Treasury yields affect US stocks covers how inflation data can feed through to markets.
Fed speakers, Beige Book and the October meeting
There is no Federal Reserve rate decision this week. Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack speaks on Monday. Governor Christopher Waller, Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin and Boston Fed President Susan Collins are scheduled on Tuesday. Governor Michelle Bowman speaks on Wednesday, and the Fed publishes its Beige Book, a summary of regional business conditions, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is due to speak late Thursday, US time.
The next FOMC meeting is October 27–28, with the policy decision on October 28. No jobs report or GDP release falls inside this week’s calendar.
Retail sales, PPI and other data
Tuesday brings the NFIB small business index and September existing home sales. Thursday, October 15 is the busiest data day after CPI: September retail sales and the September producer price index are both due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, alongside weekly jobless claims and the Empire State and Philadelphia Fed manufacturing surveys.
On Friday, October 16, September import prices are released at 8:30 a.m., followed by industrial production and capacity utilization at 9:15 a.m. Friday is also monthly options expiration.
Key dates at a glance
- Monday, October 12: stocks open, bond market closed; Hammack speaks.
- Tuesday, October 13: JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Wells Fargo earnings; NFIB index; existing home sales.
- Wednesday, October 14: September CPI; Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and BlackRock earnings; Beige Book.
- Thursday, October 15: retail sales, PPI and jobless claims; Schwab and TSMC earnings.
- Friday, October 16: import prices, industrial production, options expiration.
Schedules are based on published calendars and can change. This article is for education and information only and is not investment advice.
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