By — Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press By — Paul Wiseman, Associated Press Paul Wiseman, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/vital-economic-data-including-fridays-jobs-report-cut-off-in-government-shutdown Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Vital economic data, including Friday’s jobs report, cut off in government shutdown Nation Oct 2, 2025 10:23 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown that began Wednesday will deprive policymakers and investors of economic data vital to their decision-making at a time of unusual uncertainty about the direction of the U.S. economy. The absence will be felt almost immediately, as the government’s monthly jobs report scheduled for release Friday will likely be delayed. A weekly report on the number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits — a proxy for layoffs that is typically published on Thursdays — will also be postponed. READ MORE: Supreme Court lets Lisa Cook remain as a Federal Reserve governor for now in unsigned order If the shutdown is short-lived, it won’t be very disruptive. But if the release of economic data is delayed for several weeks or longer, it could pose challenges, particularly for the Federal Reserve. The Fed is grappling with where to set a key interest rate at a time of conflicting signals, with inflation running above its 2% target and hiring nearly ground to a halt, driving the unemployment rate higher in August. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The Fed typically cuts this rate when unemployment rises, but raises it — or at least leaves it unchanged — when inflation is rising too quickly. It’s possible the Fed will have little new federal economic data to analyze by its next meeting on Oct. 28-29, when it is widely expected to reduce its rate again. “The job market had been a source of real strength in the economy but has been slowing down considerably the past few months,” said Michael Linden, senior policy fellow at the left-leaning Washington Center for Equitable Growth. “It would be very good to know if that slowdown was continuing, accelerating, or reversing.” READ MORE: Fed’s favored inflation gauge accelerated slightly in August, report shows The Fed cut its rate by a quarter-point earlier this month and signaled it was likely to do so twice more this year. Fed officials said they would keep a close eye on how inflation and unemployment evolve, but that depends on the data being available. A key inflation report is scheduled for Oct. 15 and the government’s monthly retail sales report is slated for release the next day. “We’re in a meeting-by-meeting situation, and we’re going to be looking at the data,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said during a news conference earlier this month. READ MORE: What to know about the Fed’s rate cut and mortgage rates The economic picture has recently gotten cloudier. Despite slower hiring, there are signs that overall economic growth may be picking up. Consumers have stepped up their shopping and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta estimates the economy likely expanded at a healthy clip in the July-September quarter, after a large gain in the April-June period. A key question for the Fed is whether that growth can revive the job market, which this Friday’s report might have helped illustrate. Economists had forecast another month of weak hiring, with just 50,000 new positions added, according to a survey by FactSet. The unemployment rate was projected to stay at a still-low 4.3%. On Wall Street, investors obsess over the monthly jobs reports, typically issued the first Friday of every month. It’s a crucial indicator of the economy’s health and provides insights into how the Fed might adjust interest rates, which affects the cost of borrowing and influences how investors allocate their money. WATCH: Chicago Fed president unpacks weak jobs report and what it says about the economy So far, investors don’t seem fazed by the shutdown. The broad S&P 500 stock index rose slightly Wednesday to an all-time high. Many businesses also rely on government data to gauge how the economy is faring. The Commerce Department’s monthly report on retail sales, for example, is a comprehensive look at the health of U.S. consumers and can influence whether companies make plans to expand or shrink their operations and workforces. For the time being, the Fed, economists, and investors will likely focus more on private data. On Wednesday, the payroll provider ADP issued its monthly employment data, which showed that businesses cut 32,000 jobs in September — a signal the economy is slowing. Still, ADP chief economist Nela Richardson said her firm’s report “was not intended to be a replacement” for government statistics. The ADP data does not capture what’s happening at government agencies, for example — an area of the economy that could be significantly affected by a lengthy shutdown. “Using a portfolio of private sector and government data gives you a better chance of capturing a very complicated economy in a complex world,” she said. The Fed will remain open no matter how long the shutdown lasts, because it funds itself from earnings on the government bonds and other securities it owns. It will continue to provide its monthly snapshots of industrial production, which includes mining, manufacturing, and utility output. The next industrial production report will be released Oct. 17. Find more of our government shutdown coverage WATCH: Congressional leaders and White House refuse to compromise on first day of shutdown READ MORE: What happens now that a government shutdown is underway WATCH: Jeffries says GOP uninterested in negotiating because ‘they apparently wanted’ a shutdown READ MORE: Are Democrats or Republicans to blame for the looming government shutdown? Here’s what our poll found WATCH: Democrats’ demands are a ‘ransom note,’ GOP Rep. Haridopolos says A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press By — Paul Wiseman, Associated Press Paul Wiseman, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown that began Wednesday will deprive policymakers and investors of economic data vital to their decision-making at a time of unusual uncertainty about the direction of the U.S. economy. The absence will be felt almost immediately, as the government’s monthly jobs report scheduled for release Friday will likely be delayed. A weekly report on the number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits — a proxy for layoffs that is typically published on Thursdays — will also be postponed. READ MORE: Supreme Court lets Lisa Cook remain as a Federal Reserve governor for now in unsigned order If the shutdown is short-lived, it won’t be very disruptive. But if the release of economic data is delayed for several weeks or longer, it could pose challenges, particularly for the Federal Reserve. The Fed is grappling with where to set a key interest rate at a time of conflicting signals, with inflation running above its 2% target and hiring nearly ground to a halt, driving the unemployment rate higher in August. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The Fed typically cuts this rate when unemployment rises, but raises it — or at least leaves it unchanged — when inflation is rising too quickly. It’s possible the Fed will have little new federal economic data to analyze by its next meeting on Oct. 28-29, when it is widely expected to reduce its rate again. “The job market had been a source of real strength in the economy but has been slowing down considerably the past few months,” said Michael Linden, senior policy fellow at the left-leaning Washington Center for Equitable Growth. “It would be very good to know if that slowdown was continuing, accelerating, or reversing.” READ MORE: Fed’s favored inflation gauge accelerated slightly in August, report shows The Fed cut its rate by a quarter-point earlier this month and signaled it was likely to do so twice more this year. Fed officials said they would keep a close eye on how inflation and unemployment evolve, but that depends on the data being available. A key inflation report is scheduled for Oct. 15 and the government’s monthly retail sales report is slated for release the next day. “We’re in a meeting-by-meeting situation, and we’re going to be looking at the data,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said during a news conference earlier this month. READ MORE: What to know about the Fed’s rate cut and mortgage rates The economic picture has recently gotten cloudier. Despite slower hiring, there are signs that overall economic growth may be picking up. Consumers have stepped up their shopping and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta estimates the economy likely expanded at a healthy clip in the July-September quarter, after a large gain in the April-June period. A key question for the Fed is whether that growth can revive the job market, which this Friday’s report might have helped illustrate. Economists had forecast another month of weak hiring, with just 50,000 new positions added, according to a survey by FactSet. The unemployment rate was projected to stay at a still-low 4.3%. On Wall Street, investors obsess over the monthly jobs reports, typically issued the first Friday of every month. It’s a crucial indicator of the economy’s health and provides insights into how the Fed might adjust interest rates, which affects the cost of borrowing and influences how investors allocate their money. WATCH: Chicago Fed president unpacks weak jobs report and what it says about the economy So far, investors don’t seem fazed by the shutdown. The broad S&P 500 stock index rose slightly Wednesday to an all-time high. Many businesses also rely on government data to gauge how the economy is faring. The Commerce Department’s monthly report on retail sales, for example, is a comprehensive look at the health of U.S. consumers and can influence whether companies make plans to expand or shrink their operations and workforces. For the time being, the Fed, economists, and investors will likely focus more on private data. On Wednesday, the payroll provider ADP issued its monthly employment data, which showed that businesses cut 32,000 jobs in September — a signal the economy is slowing. Still, ADP chief economist Nela Richardson said her firm’s report “was not intended to be a replacement” for government statistics. The ADP data does not capture what’s happening at government agencies, for example — an area of the economy that could be significantly affected by a lengthy shutdown. “Using a portfolio of private sector and government data gives you a better chance of capturing a very complicated economy in a complex world,” she said. The Fed will remain open no matter how long the shutdown lasts, because it funds itself from earnings on the government bonds and other securities it owns. It will continue to provide its monthly snapshots of industrial production, which includes mining, manufacturing, and utility output. The next industrial production report will be released Oct. 17. Find more of our government shutdown coverage WATCH: Congressional leaders and White House refuse to compromise on first day of shutdown READ MORE: What happens now that a government shutdown is underway WATCH: Jeffries says GOP uninterested in negotiating because ‘they apparently wanted’ a shutdown READ MORE: Are Democrats or Republicans to blame for the looming government shutdown? Here’s what our poll found WATCH: Democrats’ demands are a ‘ransom note,’ GOP Rep. Haridopolos says A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now