The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has postponed the release of a key annual report on consumer expenditures, citing staffing shortages and limited resources. The delay, which affects the accuracy of inflation data, is causing concern among economists.
The BLS initially set the release for Tuesday but rescheduled it to a later date without explanation. The agency’s website says the data is crucial for determining the weighting of specific goods and services in the Consumer Price Index.
Former BLS commissioners are expressing worry about the future of U.S. statistics, citing politicization and accuracy concerns. Staffing shortages and budget cuts have already led to cutbacks in data collection for certain CPI categories and regions.
Economist Omair Sharif suggests that the delay might be due to an error correction, while former BLS commissioner William Beach notes that the agency’s release record is “tricky.” Erika McEntarfer, another former BLS commissioner, expresses concerns about the accuracy and independence of the agency’s work in the future.
The BLS has been under attack from the White House, with President Trump firing the agency head last month after revisions to previous data confirmed a slowing labor market. The agency is now looking to ramp up staff to collect price data in major metro areas.
With the annual report delayed, economists are watching closely for updates on when it will be released and how it might impact inflation data.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/09/19/bls-cpi-report-inflation