U.S. Government Shutdown Risks Permanent Loss of Key Economic Data, Economists Warn

A prolonged U.S. government shutdown may result in permanent gaps in critical economic data, including inflation and unemployment figures, according to economists cited by BlockBeats.White House officials acknowledged that several major data releases for October inflation and employment may have “disappeared into a data black hole” due to the 43-day lapse in federal operations.President Trump’s chief economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, confirmed that the October unemployment rate will not be published, marking the first time in 77 years the figure has been withheld. Hassett added that an estimate of October job creation will still be produced — contradicting earlier comments from Press Secretary Levitt, who said the entire jobs report might be unavailable.Uncertainty also surrounds the October Consumer Price Index (CPI), with officials unable to confirm whether the inflation report can be released at all.Economists warn that missing or incomplete data could disrupt policymaking, distort market expectations, and challenge analysts’ ability to accurately measure economic conditions following the shutdown.