US Government Shutdown Delays Key Economic Data Reports Nationwide

The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has disrupted the release of several key economic reports, including the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) announcement for 2026, weekly unemployment claims, and factory orders data. The Social Security Administration requires September inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has halted operations due to the shutdown, potentially delaying the COLA update that affects retirees' benefits. Weekly jobless claims data, a critical economic indicator, has also been postponed, increasing uncertainty for investors, Federal Reserve policymakers, and market participants who rely on this information to gauge labor market health. This data gap complicates the Federal Reserve's decision-making, though recent private sector reports indicate job losses, prompting expectations of interest rate cuts. The absence of fresh labor data may strengthen the Federal Reserve's case for easing monetary policy amid slowing economic momentum and cooling inflation. Market attention is now focused on upcoming unemployment rate figures, which could provide the only new insight into labor conditions during this period of heightened uncertainty.