Data blackout: US scraps October CPI report after govt shutdown; Fed left without key data ahead of policy meet
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said it “is unable to retroactively collect” consumer price data for October and will not release the report originally scheduled for November 13, AFP reported.The shutdown, which lasted from October to mid-November, also halted publications on key indicators including trade and retail sales.
Earlier this week, the BLS said it would not release an October jobs report because unemployment survey data was not collected.Fed to decide policy without fresh inflation or jobs dataThe delays mean the Federal Reserve will not have updated readings on inflation or labour market conditions when policymakers meet on December 9-10.
Available employment data from October will instead be released alongside November’s numbers after the meeting, according to AFP.Analysts say the absence of fresh data complicates the central bank’s balancing act between inflation risks and a slowing labour market.
A prolonged downturn in hiring could strengthen the case for further rate cuts, while tariff-driven price pressures may argue for a pause.President Donald Trump’s tariff measures have made bringing inflation down more challenging, prompting some Fed policymakers to signal caution about cutting rates too quickly, AFP noted.
