The responsible statistical authority clarifies that the publication of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for October has been cancelled. The collection of the data has been made impossible by the shutdown of the government apparatus.
In addition, the report on the November CPI is being postponed by just over a week, to December 18.
Furthermore, it is unclear when figures may be released for core PCE inflation in October – considered by the Federal Reserve (Fed) to be the heaviest measure of price increases when decisions are made on future policy rates.
Previously, the authorities have announced that important labor market statistics will also not be released before December 10, when the next interest rate decision is to be made by the Fed.
According to minutes from the October meeting – when interest rates were cut by a quarter of a percentage point – Fed members expressed concern about an information fog as they try to formulate monetary policy.
But on Friday, John Williams, one of the Fed's top officials, said he still saw room for more interest rate cuts soon.
