The Retail Sales Index is released at 8:30 am EST around the 12th of the month; it reflects data from the previous month. The consumer confidence index is released on the last Tuesday of the month at 10 am EST, the report measures how confident consumers feel about the state of the economy as well as their spending power. Interest rates are the main driver in Forex markets; all of the above mentioned economic indicators are closely watched by the Federal Open Market Committee in order to gauge the overall health of the economy.