The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the rate of inflation (i.e., the rate of price changes) experienced by consumers when purchasing goods and services. A rising trend has a positive effect on the nation's currency. The primary objective of the central bank is to achieve price stability; when inflation rises above an annualized rate of approximately 2%, they will respond by raising interest rates to bring prices down. Higher interest rates attract foreign investment, thus increasing demand for the nation's currency. CPI is one of the most closely watched indicators and will usually have a high impact upon release.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will testify before the House Financial Services Committee regarding the ongoing subprime mortgage problems. As head of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which is responsible for setting the nation\'s short term interest rate, Ben Bernanke is arguably the most influential figure in the currency markets. Bernanke is known to drop clues during his speeches, as it is the FOMC\'s tenet to keep the public aware of their monetary policy long before interest rates are changes. Heavy market volatility is often experienced during Bernanke\'s speeches as traders attempt to decipher his clues.