Shutdown delays October inflation report – what does the Fed's data say?

Core Insights - The longest government shutdown in history has delayed the release of key economic reports, including the October consumer price index (CPI) [1][7] - The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's "nowcast" estimates that CPI increased by 0.18% month-over-month in October, while core CPI rose by 0.25% [2] - Year-over-year, CPI was up 2.96% in October, and core CPI increased by 2.99%, indicating a rise in inflation after a recent low of 2.3% in April 2025 [5] - The last official CPI report showed a 3% increase in both headline and core CPI for September compared to the previous year [6] - The shutdown has hindered data collection for the October jobs report and CPI, with uncertainty surrounding their release [10] Economic Impact - The shutdown has made it difficult for economists, investors, and policymakers at the Federal Reserve to access critical data, potentially impairing economic decision-making [11] - The White House has indicated that the shutdown may have permanently damaged the federal statistical system, affecting the reliability of future economic data [11] Future Outlook - The October jobs report may not be published due to the lack of data collection, while the September jobs report could be released shortly after the shutdown ends [10] - The government has enacted a stopgap measure to fund operations through January 30, which may allow for the resumption of data collection and reporting [12]