U.S. Labor Department Prepares to Release September CPI Data Amid Government Shutdown

According to PANews, despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is preparing to release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for September. However, the exact release date remains uncertain and is unlikely to be the originally scheduled October 15. The bureau had halted all operations due to funding interruptions, resulting in the delay of last week's non-farm payroll report. A government source indicated that some employees have been recalled to complete the report preparation. The decision to release the data appears linked to the annual Social Security cost adjustment process, which relies on third-quarter inflation data. Consequently, the delay in September's price data could postpone the announcement of cost-of-living adjustments. Other media reports suggest that the Bureau of Labor Statistics plans to release the September CPI data by the end of the month.