What to Expect in Markets This Week: Christmas Holiday, GDP, Consumer Confidence, Jobless Claims

Markets brace for a holiday-shortened week packed with economic fireworks. Forget the eggnog—traders are eyeing a triple-threat of data that could shake portfolios before the year wraps.

The Main Events

First up, the final GDP read for the year hits the tape. Then, consumer confidence numbers drop, offering a real-time pulse on Main Street's spending mood. Capping it off, the weekly jobless claims report delivers its usual dose of volatility—because nothing says 'holiday cheer' like employment data.

A Thin-Trading Wildcard

Throw in the Christmas holiday, and you've got the recipe for a classic low-liquidity rollercoaster. Fewer players on the field often mean bigger, sharper moves on any surprise headlines. Perfect for those year-end tax-loss harvesting plays, or as the cynics call it, 'strategic underperformance.'

While traditional markets navigate this data deluge, a parallel universe of digital assets operates on its own rhythm—often shrugging off old-world economic reports in favor of its own network metrics and adoption signals. The takeaway? Keep one eye on the legacy data, but don't forget where the real structural shifts are happening.

GDP, Consumer Confidence Data Highlight Holiday-Shortened Week

A trio of reports delayed by the government shutdown are set to be released this week, led by the initial report on third-quarter GDP. 

Initially scheduled for release Oct. 30, the delayed report means that the Bureau of Economic Analysis will only put out two GDP reports for the third quarter two estimates and a final report—rather than its usual three. After Tuesday’s GDP release, which follows second-quarter growth rebounding to 3.8% after a 0.6% decline in the first quarter as tariff threats pushed imports higher, the BEA is scheduled to release the final third-quarter GDP report on Jan. 22.

The report on durable goods orders for October, initially scheduled for a November release, is also set for Tuesday. Other delayed reports coming out that day include the Federal Reserve's industrial production and capacity utilization data for both October and November.

Tuesday's December consumer confidence survey comes at its regularly scheduled time. Weekly jobless claims, due Wednesday, will also be in the spotlight following last week’s employment report, which showed that unemployment ROSE in November. 

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This Week’s Calendar

• Nothing scheduled

• Gross Domestic Product - initial estimate (Q3)
• More Data to Watch: Durable-goods orders (October), Industrial production & capacity utilization (November), Consumer confidence (December)

• Initial jobless claims (Week ended Dec. 20)
• Stock markets close at 1 p.m. EST; bond markets close at 2 p.m. EST

• Stock, bond markets closed for Christmas holiday

• Nothing scheduled

One More Thing

The holidays are supposed to be a time for peace and happiness, but for many, it’s also a season of debt and financial stress. Investopedia’s Daniel Liberto has more on the impact that holiday spending has on many people's finances.