In spite of being the last day of trading before Christmas, Friday has several reports on the docket and will be a normal trading session. The U.S. Commerce Department reports on U.S. personal incomes and consumer spending for November at 7:30 a.m. CST, the same time as a report on U.S. durable goods is out. At 9 a.m., the University of Michigan's report on consumer sentiment in December is due along with a report on U.S. new home sales for November. At 2 p.m., USDA will release cattle on-feed and the quarterly inventory of hogs and pigs, both for December 1. After the Christmas holiday, trading for grain and livestock futures will start again Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. CST.
Weather
A strong arctic front has passed through most of the country, with only the Northeast yet to go. Temperatures have fallen to significantly low values Friday morning and will continue to be frigid through the weekend. Winds remain high across much of the country, creating blowing snow and blizzard conditions harsh for travel, and dangerous windchills for humans and livestock. Precipitation is moving off to the East Coast, though lake-effect snows will wind up during the day. Snow is falling in the Pacific Northwest as well, a sign of a more active pattern for the West to close out 2022.