Story perspectives

Shutdown Disrupts Data Release, Food Banks Overwhelmed

11/15/2025

Summary

Story summary

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said October reports, including jobs and inflation data, may never be released after the shutdown, which disrupted data collection and could permanently damage federal statistical system.
Food banks face record demand as SNAP benefits were delayed during shutdown.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics plans to release September jobs data, but October data remain uncertain, complicating Federal Reserve's decisions amid rising inflation and a slowing job market.

History

Historical Context

The 2013 U.S. government shutdown, lasting from October 1 to 17, resulted from a budget impasse over the Affordable Care Act, leading to the furlough of approximately 800,000 federal employees. This disruption delayed critical economic data, impacting the Federal Reserve's policy decisions. The shutdown's legacy includes diminished public trust in economic data and increased reliance on alternative sources, echoing challenges faced in subsequent shutdowns.

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Story summary

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said October reports, including jobs and inflation data, may never be released after the shutdown, which disrupted data collection and could permanently damage federal statistical system.
Food banks face record demand as SNAP benefits were delayed during shutdown.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics plans to release September jobs data, but October data remain uncertain, complicating Federal Reserve's decisions amid rising inflation and a slowing job market.

1 / 2