White House says October’s US inflation and jobs reports may never be published due to the record-long government shutdown, leaving the Fed “flying blind.”
WASHINGTON: Official US data on consumer inflation and the jobs market for October may never be published, the White House announced on Wednesday.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt cited the longest government shutdown in the country’s history, now in its 43rd day, as the cause.
Leavitt accused Democrats of potentially causing permanent harm to the federal statistical system.
She told reporters the October consumer price index and jobs reports will “likely never” be released.
“All of that economic data release will be permanently impaired, leaving our policymakers at the Fed flying blind at a critical period,” she added.
Republicans and Democrats have blamed each other for the shutdown, which has paused the collection and release of key economic indicators.
The central bank uses federal data releases when considering when to adjust interest rates.
Congress appeared set to end the shutdown as of Wednesday.
The House of Representatives was expected to approve a contentious Senate-passed funding package to reopen federal agencies.
The government had originally planned to release October CPI data on Thursday morning.
September consumer inflation numbers were released days behind schedule last month after recalling some furloughed staff.
Economists have warned that delays could distort October data and that numbers could be lost if not logged timely.
Federal workers could ask people to recount economic conditions after the shutdown ends, but this proves difficult with long delays. – AFP
