U.S. stock futures rise ahead of April CPI report

U.S. stock index futures climbed on Monday, May 11, 2026, as investors waited for April’s Consumer Price Index report, a key reading that could shape expectations for Federal Reserve interest-rate policy.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were each up 0.6%, while Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.8%.

The moves came after U.S. stocks edged higher in the regular session on Monday, when gains in semiconductor shares helped push the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq to record highs.

Markets are focused on the CPI release due Tuesday morning, with investors looking for signs of how the war involving the U.S. and Iran is affecting the economy and inflation.

Inflation data in focus as Fed expectations hinge on CPI

Economists expect CPI to have risen 3.7% in April, according to the report’s preview. Investors have treated the release as a key checkpoint for the outlook for U.S. monetary policy.

Attention this week also includes wholesale inflation figures due Wednesday, which could provide a second read on price pressures.

Trump’s China trip and major earnings add to the week’s agenda

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump is scheduled to begin a trip to China and meet with President Xi Jinping. Trade and artificial intelligence are expected to be central topics in the talks.

Earnings season continues this week, with results expected from Applied Materials, Cisco Systems, Alibaba Group, and Birkenstock.

Investors are likely to keep markets sensitive to Tuesday’s CPI report and the follow-on inflation data later in the week as they assess the implications for rates and risk appetite.