White House says October jobs and inflation data may never be released

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing government shutdown may lead to the permanent impairment of critical economic data collection, affecting key reports such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and nonfarm payrolls, which are essential for policymakers and investors [2][3]. Economic Data Impact - Key economic reports for October, including the monthly nonfarm payrolls and consumer index, may not be released due to the government shutdown, which has lasted over six weeks, the longest in history [2][3]. - Other affected data includes retail sales, import and export statistics, as well as consumer spending and income [3]. Implications for Policymakers - The inability to access critical government data hampers the Federal Reserve's ability to make informed decisions during a crucial economic period, leaving them "flying blind" [2][4]. - Wall Street economists had anticipated that the data would eventually be released, albeit with delays, but recent comments from White House officials have cast doubt on this expectation [3].