Better late than never: The delayed September jobs report will be out next week

"The Labor Department says it will release a key report on the September job market next Thursday, almost seven weeks behind schedule. The jobs report is one of many closely-watched economic indicators that were held up by the government shutdown. The report which details hiring, layoffs and the unemployment rate for September was almost complete when the government economists who tally jobs were abruptly furloughed by the shutdown. Since the data was already in hand, the report should be relatively easy to publish next week."

"The timing of other key economic reports is still up in the air. The government needs to conduct surveys and price checks before it can report on October's job gains and inflation rate. Reports on consumer spending and GDP are also overdue, leaving businesses, investors and policymakers looking for other clues about the strength or weakness of the U.S. economy."

The Labor Department will release the September jobs report next Thursday, nearly seven weeks after its scheduled release because of the government shutdown. The report details hiring, layoffs and the unemployment rate for September and was nearly complete when economists who tally jobs were furloughed. Because the underlying data had already been collected, the report should be relatively easy to publish. Timing for other economic reports remains uncertain because the government must resume surveys and price checks for October job gains and the inflation rate. Consumer spending and GDP reports are overdue. Government staff will post an updated release schedule and the BLS thanked the public for its patience.

Read at www.npr.org