Can Trump’s new BLS pick mess with the data? Experts explain

Data Accuracy and Political Influence - Concerns arise over potential political manipulation of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, particularly the jobs numbers and Consumer Price Index (CPI), due to the appointment of a nominee perceived as politically aligned [1][5][6] - The industry emphasizes the importance of data accuracy and nonpartisanship in BLS reporting, as businesses, governments, and politicians rely on this data for decision-making and evaluation [2][8][9] - The industry expresses worry that redefining data or temporarily cancelling reports could mask economic weaknesses and hinder effective monetary and fiscal policy responses [14] Potential Consequences of Data Manipulation - The industry highlights that unreliable data could negatively impact business decisions related to production, location, and understanding consumer behavior [12][13] - Concerns exist that skipping or blending data releases, especially around midterm elections, could lead to misleading economic perceptions [16][18] - The industry notes that disruptions to long-term data series undermine their usefulness for understanding economic trends [15] Calls for Action and Alternative Solutions - The industry suggests that business leaders should publicly advocate for the protection of accurate and credible data [11] - The industry mentions the development of alternative private sector data sets to provide checks and balances on official numbers [15] - The industry emphasizes the need to support statisticians who have been working to protect data series [15]