The Bureau of Labor Statistics will bring back some staff during the government shutdown to release the Consumer Price Index. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has called back employees to prepare the Consumer Price Index report.
The news of the callback was reported by the New York Times, CNBC and Axios. The CPI report is how the government and economists measure inflation.
The price data has already been collected, but it must be processed and analyzed. Employees called back are economists and IT specialists, an administration source familiar with the plan told the Times. Data collection will still be suspended, meaning next month’s report may be delayed if the government shutdown continues.
The report will be released at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Oct. 24, CNBC reported. It was originally scheduled for Oct. 15.
The reason for the release of the new report is that federal law requires the Social Security Administration to adjust Social Security benefits annually based on inflation from the third quarter, and the adjustment must be published by Nov. 1.
But the delay could make it impossible for the administration to meet the deadline.
Other BLS reports, such as the nonfarm payrolls report, have not been released since the shutdown. That report was scheduled for Oct. 3.
