"In fact, the White House now says jobs and inflation data for October may never be released because of the shutdown. All of that economic data released will be permanently impaired, leaving our policymakers at the Fed, flying blind at a critical period, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, referring to the Federal Reserve, the U.S. central bank. That lack of data has already cast a fog of uncertainty over the state of the U.S. economy, meaning businesses and policy makers alike don't know for certain what's happening."
"Our view of the economy is more based on vibes than verified information, said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist for the financial services company Corpay. He says economists and businesses were relying on private sector proxies like credit card data, satellite imagery and surveys. Schamotta says this fog has fallen at a crucial time. The U.S.-Canada trade war has caused deep uncertainty and sharp debate about whether, how and when tariffs would cause the American economy to slow."
The 43-day government shutdown halted collection and release of key economic indicators, delaying or eliminating October jobs and inflation reports. Missing and impaired data will leave official economic records incomplete and complicate monetary policy decisions at the Federal Reserve during a critical period. Businesses and policymakers face increased uncertainty due to the absence of verified statistics, forcing reliance on private-sector proxies such as credit card transactions, satellite imagery, and surveys. The data gap adds confusion amid tariff-driven debate about inflation, investment, and hiring, making it harder to assess the economy's true condition and to set timely fiscal and monetary responses.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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