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Consumer price indexes

Government Shutdown Threatens to Delay Inflation Report for First Time in Over 70 Years

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A government shutdown is poised to prevent the release of next month's inflation report for the first time in more than seven decades, due to the inability of surveyors to collect crucial in-person data. Despite some electronic data collection, most inflation data is gathered by government employees who visit stores across the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has already reduced the data collected each month due to the hiring freeze resulting from the Trump administration's policies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The White House has announced that there likely won't be an inflation report next month for the first time in history due to the government shutdown.
  • Most inflation data is collected in person by government employees who visit stores across the country, and surveyors are unable to deploy to the field.
  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reduced the data collected each month due to the hiring freeze caused by the Trump administration's policies.
  • The September inflation report, which was delayed by nine days, was based on data collected before the shutdown began on October 1.
  • In past shutdowns, the consumer price index was compiled based on partial data, but it may be too late to gather even that level of information this time.

Statistics:

  • No inflation report has been released next month for the first time in more than seven decades due to the government shutdown.
  • 70+ years: the number of years since the inflation report was not delayed next month.
  • 9 days: the delay in the release of the September inflation report.
  • 10/1: the date when the government shutdown began.
  • 2025: the year when the labor data was reduced due to the hiring freeze.

Sources:

  • "White House says government shutdown will delay inflation report for 1st time in more than 70 years" by Christopher Rugaber,

https://apnews.com itemId=ABC-Newswire-FR061B00XXXXXXXX

  • "delay in inflation report due to shutdown" by AP News

https://apnews.com/xxxxXXXA/items/abc-newswire-fr061B00XXXXXXXX

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