BLS to Release Inflation Report Amid Government Shutdown

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced on Friday that it will proceed with the release of its monthly inflation report, despite the ongoing government shutdown. Furloughed employees are being brought back for this task.

Scheduled for release on October 24, the consumer price index (CPI) for September will come out nine days later than originally planned. The BLS emphasized on its website that this report is necessary for calculating social security payments.

Although consumer price data has already been gathered, it requires further analysis. Officials from the Trump administration indicated that a limited number of employees from the Department of Labor have been recalled to aid in this process.

The White House did not provide any comments when approached for a response.

The government shutdown reached its tenth day on Friday, which has led to a halt in all BLS operations, sending economists and tech experts home. The recalled employees are expected to “immediately resume work” on the inflation report, according to statements reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Last week, the agency missed the deadline for releasing its anticipated employment report, data that is crucial for economists and policymakers. Employment figures are in close scrutiny, especially since several Federal Reserve officials have referenced a slow labor market as a reason for potential rate cuts.

The BLS’s choice to go ahead with the CPI release is significantly tied to the Social Security Administration’s Annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which relies on inflation data for payment adjustments. It is assured that Social Security checks will still be issued during the shutdown.

As mandated by law, the Social Security Administration needs to publish the annual adjustments by November 1. Typically, this announcement comes after the September CPI report, as it utilizes third-quarter price information for the annual calculations.

Beneficiaries of Social Security mainly include retired and disabled workers, as well as some widows, widowers, and children.

Recently, the Alliance on Aging estimated a 2.7% COLA increase for 2026, which would raise the average monthly payment for retirees by $54 to about $2,062. So far this year, over 72.5 million Social Security recipients have benefited from a 2.5% COLA increase.

While some BLS staff are back to help with the CPI release, the upcoming report may still face delays since data collection was paused during the government shutdown.

A contingency plan from last month indicated that only one BLS employee, the acting secretary, was expected to work during the suspension.

William Wiatrowski has been leading the BLS since President Trump unexpectedly fired Erica McEnterfer in August due to allegations of data manipulation following problematic adjustments in prior employment reports. Wiatrowski’s nomination of E. J. Antoni, a conservative economist at the Heritage Foundation, was later retracted last month.