The Labor Department announced Wednesday that it won’t be releasing its monthly jobs report for October because the record-breaking government shutdown prevented it from collecting necessary data.
Only some October data will be included in a delayed November report instead.
This marks the first time the department won’t publish an unemployment rate.
The department’s household survey determines that rate, but many of the federal employees who conduct the survey were furloughed during the period it would normally be collected.
The report has two parts: a survey of households to determine the unemployment rate and other demographic information, plus an employer survey to inform payroll numbers.
While the October household survey could not be done retroactively, the department was able to collect the hiring numbers from employers, according to a notice on its website.
The department’s “Employment Situation’’ report for October will now be published with its November data. That will be published late, moving from Dec. 5 to Dec. 16.
The department did not indicate when or if it would release its October Consumer Price Index.
Two portions of the September jobs report, originally due in October, will now be released Thursday and Friday.
The Federal Reserve relies on the reports to guide decisions on interest rates, and its policymakers will meet in December to determine whether to cut rates for the third time this year. The central bank won’t be able to see the November report beforehand.
Last week, the Trump administration warned that the October report could exclude data because of the shutdown.
• Mary McCue Bell can be reached at mbell@washingtontimes.com.
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