U.S. Delays October PPI Release Amid Government Shutdown Backlog, Leaving Fed Without Key Inflation Data

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has canceled the October Producer Price Index (PPI) release, folding it into the delayed November report now scheduled for January 14. The decision stems from disruptions caused by the recent government shutdown, which has thrown multiple federal economic data releases off track.

While the PPI typically doesn't significantly MOVE markets on its own, it serves as a critical input for the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index—the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge. The absence of fresh wholesale price data leaves policymakers relying on September figures as they convene this week, complicating their assessment of persistent inflation and growing labor market risks.

The BLS confirmed this consolidation as part of broader efforts to restore normal data flows after weeks of disruption. For a Fed already navigating a foggy economic landscape, the missing October data and delayed November report represent yet another blind spot in their inflation monitoring toolkit.