Labor and inflation statistics from alternative sources: Here's what to know

Labor Market Analysis - Preliminary estimates indicate a decrease in initial jobless claims by 13,000 to 219,000, the lowest in a month [2] - Continuing claims increased by 11,000 to 1.96 million, the highest since August [3] - Alternative data suggests no surge in job losses despite the government shutdown [4] - Regional Fed surveys indicate a pickup in job growth [4] Inflation Trends - Regional Fed surveys show prices ticking down slightly, but remaining elevated [4] - An index tracking CPI shows an acceleration in prices coinciding with tariffs, but the increases have flattened out [5] Data Reliability and Future Outlook - Alternative data is considered good but not comprehensive and hasn't been fully tested [6] - The government shutdown may delay the release of key economic reports, particularly the October report for November [8] - Exploration of alternative data sources, like the Troy Leka index, is considered valuable even after the government reopens [9][10][11] - The Troy Leka index effectively tracks jobs and inflation and could potentially improve [11] - The federal government layoffs could impact jobs data [13]