bureau of labor statistics

In non-shutdown times, the BLS would be collecting employment data this week. Not doing that could have economic implications.

Its underperformance in recent years could be a sign of weakness in the labor market

But private data can’t replace the government’s report.

There are other reports, but they lack the breadth and depth of the one the Bureau of Labor Statistics produces.

It’s not a story about wonky statistics. It’s about America’s reliability as a borrower of trillions of dollars, something that underpins our global economy.

Measuring inflation takes resources, but both the public and the U.S. government itself benefit from having an accurate read on price changes. 

At Marketplace, we cover a lot of hard data. But soft data can be just as important.

Data collected by private companies can give us unique insight into the economy, but it’s not a substitute for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Trump’s pick to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics has suggested pausing the report, a proposal that investors, companies, and policymakers would not be fond of. 

There are private firms that offer specialized economic data, but they're not always as comprehensive as government sources.