U.S. Inflation Report Could Still Arrive Despite Government Shutdown

Investors may still get the September inflation report even as the U.S. government shutdown drags on. According to Bloomberg and The New York Times, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has started bringing some employees back to work so it can finish preparing the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data.

The report, originally scheduled for October 15, had been in limbo because of the shutdown. Now, it could be released just in time for the Federal Reserve's policy meeting on October 2829, where the data will be crucial in shaping rate discussions. The White House Office of Management and Budget reportedly asked the BLS to get the CPI finalized by the end of the month.

If it's released, that means it can be used to calculate Social Security's annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), said Deutsche Bank's Henry Allen, noting that retirees depend on those inflation-linked increases. UBS economist Paul Donovan added that the data's release is legally required because so much government spending is tied to inflation measures.

The shutdown, now in its 10th day, has already delayed other key reports including the September jobs and unemployment data that were due on October 3.

In August, inflation rose 0.4% month over month, while the core CPI, which strips out food and energy, was steady at 0.3%. Even a late release this month would give the Fed a critical read on whether inflation is cooling enough to keep rates steady.

It comes at a time when tech giants continue trimming roles, with Google-parent Alphabet GOOGL being the latest cutting more than 100 design jobs on Oct. 2 and over 200 AI contractors in September.