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

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.

A more stable, less swingy labor market, as reflected in the latest JOLTS data, is usually good news.

Among the important factors: where the data comes from, who the intended audience is, and whether it’s provided as a public service or a product.

The unemployment rate has dipped to its lowest point in a decade.