Government Shutdown Disrupts Economic Calendar: Key January Jobs Report Delayed
The U.S. government's partial shutdown, which entered its third day on Monday, has thrown a wrench into the economic data pipeline, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) confirming the delay of January's crucial jobs report originally scheduled for Friday.
"The release will be rescheduled upon the resumption of government funding," stated Emily Liddel, an associate commissioner at BLS. The agency furloughed non-essential staff, including those responsible for data collection and report compilation, halting its normal operations.
This disruption echoes the 43-day shutdown from late 2018 to early 2019—the longest in U.S. history—which severely backlogged economic releases. Key reports, including the September 2018 jobs data, were pushed back by weeks, while inflation metrics like the Consumer Price Index were canceled or delayed, obscuring the economic picture for policymakers and investors.
Lawmakers are now racing against the clock to restore funding. The House Rules Committee is set to review a Senate compromise bill later Monday, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) expressing optimism that a deal could be reached by Tuesday. Once passed by the House and signed by the President, shuttered agencies would reopen, allowing the BLS to announce a revised publication date for the jobs report.
The recurring threat of shutdowns undermines the reliability of U.S. economic data, a cornerstone for Federal Reserve policy decisions and global market stability. Analysts warn that these gaps in timely information create uncertainty, potentially distorting economic assessments and delaying responsive measures.
Voices from the Market
David Chen, Portfolio Manager at Horizon Capital: "This is more than an administrative hiccup. Markets trade on expectations and data. This blackout period forces us to fly blind, increasing volatility and risk premiums across asset classes."
Senator Maria Rodriguez (D-Calif.): "It's profoundly irresponsible. Working families, businesses, and the Fed need this data to make informed decisions. Holding economic transparency hostage for political leverage must end."
Rick Carson, small business owner from Ohio: "This is absolute nonsense. We're trying to plan hires, set budgets, and Washington can't even keep the lights on to tell us if the economy is adding or losing jobs? It's a clown show that's costing real people money."
Dr. Anya Sharma, Chief Economist at The Brookfield Institute: "The delay itself is less critical than the pattern it reveals. The institutional erosion from repeated shutdowns chips away at the credibility and timeliness of U.S. statistical agencies, which have long been the global gold standard."
Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.