As the Good Friday holiday gets closer, crypto traders are watching four big U.S. economic updates that could cause major price swings in Bitcoin and other digital assets.
Here’s what to keep an eye on:
1. Consumer Inflation Expectations – Coming Monday
This report, put out by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, shows how people in the U.S. expect prices to change over the next year.
- In February, the expected inflation rate rose to 3.1%, up from 3% in January.
- Experts think it might go even higher this time — possibly up to 3.3%.
Over at the University of Michigan, their consumer survey shows even more concern. Their latest numbers show Americans expect 6.7% inflation, the highest since 1981.
Why does this matter for crypto?
- If inflation is rising, more people may turn to Bitcoin, which has a limited supply and is often seen as a hedge (kind of like gold).
- But if inflation expectations go too high, the Federal Reserve might raise interest rates, which can hurt risky assets like crypto.
- In times of fear, people often move their money into stablecoins like USDT, which don’t swing in price as much.
2. Retail Sales Report – Coming Wednesday
This shows how much people are spending — a good sign of how strong or weak the economy is.
- In February, retail sales rose from 1.9% to 3.1%.
- But with new tariffs and rising prices, March may not look as good.
If spending stays strong, investors might put their money in stocks instead of crypto. But if sales are weak, it could mean the economy is slowing down — and Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Solana might benefit as investors look for safer alternatives.
3. Industrial Production Report – Also Wednesday
This report tracks how much stuff the U.S. is producing — in factories, mining, and utilities.
- In February, it dropped by 0.7%.
- March is expected to dip again, possibly down 0.2%.
For crypto:
- Weak production could boost the idea that decentralized tech like blockchain is the future.
- But if the decline continues, it might create panic in markets and hurt smaller crypto tokens.
- For Bitcoin miners, falling utility output can mean higher energy prices, making mining less profitable.
Jaran Mellerud, CEO of Hashlabs Mining, recently said:
“In a business like Bitcoin mining, where costs are high, we really need stable policies — and that’s something we’re missing right now.”
4. Initial Jobless Claims – Coming Thursday
This number shows how many people are filing for unemployment benefits for the first time.
- Last week, jobless claims rose to 223,000, up from 219,000.
If claims keep rising:
- Investors may worry about a recession, which could lead them to put money into Bitcoin as a safe asset.
- However, altcoins (smaller or newer crypto projects) might lose value if people become more risk-averse.
Also, since Good Friday is coming, trading volumes may drop. This means smaller trades can cause bigger price swings, making the market more volatile.
Bitcoin Today
As of now, Bitcoin is priced around $84,962, up 0.35% in the last 24 hours, according to Thecryptoplay.
