White House says October jobs and inflation data may never be released
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during the daily press briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on November 12, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Win McNamee | Getty Images
Key economic reports for October may not be released at all due to the government shutdown, a senior White House official said Wednesday.
With the spending impasse appearing to be nearing an end, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that some of this could permanently damage the government’s ability to collect data.
“Democrats may have permanently damaged the Federal Statistics system by possibly never releasing the October CPI and jobs reports,” Leavitt said. “All published economic data will be permanently distorted, leaving our policymakers flying blind at a critical time at the Fed.”
The release of key economic data has been at the forefront of Wall Street’s concerns as the shutdown has lasted more than six weeks, the longest in history.
Top publications include the monthly nonfarm payroll count and the consumer index, both from the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other data affected includes retail sales, import and export data, as well as consumer spending and income.
Most Wall Street economists expect full data to be released, albeit with a delay. But Leavitt’s comments cast doubt on whether that will happen.
“The Democratic shutdown has made it extraordinarily difficult for economic investors and policymakers at the Federal Reserve to get critical government data,” Leavitt said.
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