[White House Official Says Some October Economic Data May Be Permanently Lost]
White House National Economic Council Director Hassett stated that the record-breaking government shutdown has caused some economic data originally scheduled to be collected in October to potentially be permanently lost, impacting the comprehensive assessment of the U.S. economic situation. He noted that some surveys were not completed, and data agencies may face issues with missing data before resuming operations. During the shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau were unable to collect data, putting the release of the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) at risk. Economists are concerned about whether unemployment-related surveys can be completed.