The US government has reopened, but it’s unclear when data about the economy will return. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said it will release its September jobs report on Thursday, breaking a six-week drought in economic data. However, economists and policymakers will still have to wait weeks for more up-to-date information on inflation, spending, home-building, and other key economic indicators.
The lack of reliable data is a challenge for the Federal Reserve, which was already struggling to interpret conflicting economic signals. Policymakers will likely head into their next meeting without much of the data they would normally use to inform interest rate decisions.
The shutdown has also had long-term consequences on statistical systems. The BLS cut back some data collection due to staff shortages and roughly a third of senior leadership positions are vacant. Economists worry that the shutdown may have done lasting damage to the agency’s ability to collect accurate data.
The Census Bureau said it would release delayed reports on construction spending and international trade in November, but it remains unclear when other data releases will resume. The BLS will be able to release some September data quickly because it was originally scheduled for October 3, but figuring out what happened during the shutdown period may be more challenging.
The delay in releasing October jobs data has significant implications for policymakers and investors. Some economists believe that missing this month’s data could have long-lasting consequences for the accuracy of economic measures and affect other surveys, such as the unemployment rate and wage growth.
The impact of the shutdown will not be immediately apparent, but it may take months to feel the effects. Economists emphasize that reliable data is essential for making informed decisions in various sectors, including government budgeting, corporate investment, and private-sector research.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/business/economy-data-shutdown.html