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

Economic Data Overview - The week ahead includes the release of key economic reports, notably the initial estimate of third-quarter GDP, which was delayed due to a government shutdown [3][4] - The Bureau of Economic Analysis will only provide two GDP reports for Q3 instead of the usual three, with the final report scheduled for January 22 [4] Market Schedule - Stock markets will close early at 1 p.m. EST on December 24 and remain closed on December 25 for the Christmas holiday [7][10] - Bond markets will close at 2 p.m. EST on December 24 [10] Key Reports to Watch - Reports scheduled for release include durable goods orders for October, industrial production, and capacity utilization data for October and November, along with the December consumer confidence survey [5][10] - Weekly jobless claims data will also be highlighted following an increase in unemployment reported for November [6][10]