Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the erosion of trust in U.S. economic data due to actions taken by the Trump administration, including the dismissal of key officials and the undermining of independent statistical agencies [1][2][3]. Group 1: Impact on Economic Data - The U.S. Department of Labor's employment data, crucial for assessing the economy's health, was reported to be significantly weaker than expected, leading to President Trump's dismissal of the Labor Statistics Bureau chief [1]. - Trump's appointment of a loyalist to the Labor Statistics Bureau raises concerns about the independence and quality of economic data, as the new appointee has previously suggested halting employment data releases [2]. - The government's budget cuts have led to the disappearance of hundreds of data sets and over 8,000 government web pages, which are essential for public policy and economic analysis [3]. Group 2: Alternative Data Sources - Some institutional investors have begun using alternative data, such as satellite imagery, to gain insights into economic performance, indicating a shift in how market participants assess economic conditions [4]. - The reliance on alternative data raises concerns about market fairness, as access to such data is often limited to wealthier investors, creating disparities in information availability [4]. - While advancements in technology are making alternative data more accessible, it is still years away from fully replacing traditional economic data collection methods [4].

Group 1 - The core point of the article is the nomination of E.J. Antony by President Trump to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) following the dismissal of the previous director due to dissatisfaction with employment data [1][4]. - The U.S. labor market shows signs of cooling, with July's non-farm payrolls adding only 73,000 jobs, significantly below the expected 110,000, and the unemployment rate rising by 0.1 percentage points to 4.2% [2][4]. - Antony, who has been critical of the previous employment data, is expected to ensure the accuracy of the data published by the BLS, which has faced scrutiny regarding its reliability [1][5]. Group 2 - The nomination comes just before the scheduled release of July inflation data, with expectations that consumer prices will rise for the third consecutive month due to the impact of Trump's tariff policies [4]. - Concerns have been raised about the reliability of U.S. economic data, with a significant number of economists expressing worries about the declining quality of data collection and reporting by the BLS [5]. - The BLS has faced challenges such as reduced staffing and budget cuts, leading to a decrease in the sample size for the Consumer Price Index and the cessation of certain data releases, which may further compromise data integrity [5].

Group 1 - The core point of the news is the nomination of E.J. Antony by President Trump to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) following dissatisfaction with the employment data released by the BLS [1] - The U.S. unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.2% in July, with non-farm payrolls adding only 73,000 jobs, significantly below the market expectation of 110,000 [1] - The previous employment data for May and June was revised down sharply, indicating a cooling job market, with May's jobs revised from 144,000 to 19,000 and June's from 147,000 to 14,000 [1] Group 2 - The nomination of Antony is expected to face little resistance in the Senate, where the Republican Party holds a majority [2] - The announcement of the nomination came just before the scheduled release of July inflation data, with predictions of a continued rise in the Consumer Price Index due to Trump's tariff policies [2] - Concerns have been raised regarding the reliability of U.S. economic data, particularly due to declining response rates and difficulties in data collection faced by the BLS [2][3] Group 3 - A survey conducted by Reuters among 100 economists and policy experts revealed widespread concern about the declining quality of U.S. economic data [3] - Former BLS director Erica Groshen expressed worries that staffing reductions could lead to unnoticed biases or errors in economic reports [3]