There are two types of forex traders. One type of traders depends on fundamental analysis in trading forex. The second type of traders depends on technical analysis in trading forex. Whether you are a fundamental trader or a technical trader, you should not underestimate the importance of economic data in shaping trading strategies.

US Dollar is the most important currency in the global economy. More than 90% of currency trades are done in US Dollar. In most of the currency trades, US Dollar is either the base currency or the counter currency.

Since majority of the currency trades involve USD, you as a forex trader will also most probably trade USD most of the time. Release of certain economic data has significant and lasting impact on currencies like USD.

With time, you will learn that forex markets reaction to the release of different economic data also changes with time. US GDP figures used to be important for USD but they dont impact much.

EUR/USD is the most liquid pair in the forex markets. The release of Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) on the first Friday of every month is the most volatile day for this pair and other pairs involving USD as a base or counter currency.

Similarly, a few years back the release of US housing sales number every month was not important for the currency markets. But it has become very significant for USD in the recent years. Currency markets used to give more importance to US Trade Balance in the past but they dont react to these figures much now.

If you depend on range trading as a trading strategy, you should avoid the day NFP data is released for trading. This is a highly volatile and jittery day for the forex market.

However, if you are a breakout trader, the knowledge of which economic data is expected to be released can help you in determining the size and confidence of the trade.

In short, knowing what economic indicators move the forex markets most is very important for you as a trader. It is important for you to understand which data the market deems important at any point in time.

You should also understand which economic data causes knee jerk reaction in the currency markets and which pieces of economic data will have lasting reaction in the currency markets.