White House: Inflation Data Unlikely to Be Released Next Month Amid Shutdown
The White House announced on Friday that inflation data will likely not be released next month because of the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.
In an official post on X (formerly Twitter), the administration said that the lack of funding has prevented federal surveyors from collecting economic data, calling the situation a major setback.
“Surveyors cannot deploy to the field, depriving us of critical data,” the statement read. “The economic consequences could be devastating.”
Political Stalemate Deepens the Shutdown
The budget impasse between Republicans and Democrats entered its 24th day on Friday, with no agreement in sight. The failure to pass a stopgap funding bill has left around 700,000 federal workers furloughed, while a similar number continue to work without pay.
As a result, many U.S. households are delaying spending, and thousands of government employees missed their first full paycheck this week. The ongoing shutdown is now adding economic pressure on families and markets alike.
Inflation Data Delay Raises Economic Concerns
Despite the partial data blackout, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for September was released on Friday. The White House said this exception was made so that the Social Security Administration could calculate its 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees and benefit recipients.
The CPI data had originally been scheduled for October 15, but was delayed amid the shutdown. Economists warn that continued data gaps could disrupt monetary policy planning and increase uncertainty in financial markets.
