Shutdown Delays U.S. Jobs and Economic Data
The government shutdown has cut off vital economic data, with the Labor Department postponing the monthly jobs report (forecasters had expected roughly 50,000 payrolls for September) and analysts warning the delay clouds the policy question of whether job growth will prevent rising unemployment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics plans to recall furloughed staff to complete the consumer price index, which will likely miss its Oct. 15 date but is being targeted for release in time for the Social Security COLA and for Federal Reserve officials to have the data; BLS commissioner Erica Groshen said CPI collection had finished just before the Oct. 1 shutdown.
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📌 Key Facts
- The Labor Department postponed the monthly jobs (payroll) report because of the federal government shutdown; forecasters had expected roughly 50,000 payroll gains for September.
- NPR's economics correspondent Scott Horsley highlighted the policy stakes of the delay—whether job growth is sufficient to prevent unemployment from rising.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics will recall furloughed staff to complete the consumer price index (CPI) work despite the shutdown, according to a Trump administration official.
- Former BLS commissioner Erica Groshen said CPI data collection was finished just before the Oct. 1 shutdown.
- The CPI will likely miss its scheduled Oct. 15 publication date but is being targeted for release in time to avoid delaying the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) announcement due before Nov. 1.
- Officials expect the Federal Reserve will receive CPI data in time for its next policy meeting despite the publication delay.
📰 Sources (3)
The BLS is prepping a delayed inflation report
New information:
- BLS will recall furloughed staff to complete the CPI despite the shutdown, per a Trump administration official.
- The CPI likely will miss its Oct. 15 publication date but is targeted to post in time to avoid delaying the Social Security COLA announcement due before Nov. 1.
- Officials expect the Federal Reserve will have CPI data in time for its next meeting.
- Former BLS commissioner Erica Groshen said CPI data collection had finished just before the Oct. 1 shutdown.
Shutdown postpones monthly jobs report. And, Trump dangles a carrot to colleges
New information:
- NPR reports that the Labor Department postponed the monthly jobs report because of the government shutdown and notes forecasters expected roughly 50,000 payrolls for September.
- NPR quotes its economics correspondent Scott Horsley explaining the policy stakes—whether job growth is sufficient to keep unemployment from rising—adding analyst context to the delay.