BLS Reschedules Consumer Expenditures Data Release for 2024 Without Explanation
ByAinvest
Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 1:38 pm ET2min read
DOGE--
The delay comes as the BLS has faced criticism for its handling of inflation data. Some argue that the BLS's methods have overstated inflation rates. This criticism has been exacerbated by the recent firing of BLS Chief Erika McEntarfer, who claimed that the agency's data was being manipulated to make the economy look worse than it was [1].
McEntarfer pointed to other countries where statisticians have been pushed out over disappointing statistics, including Argentina, Greece, and Turkey. She suggested that the resulting loss of trust in economic statistics led to worsening economic crises, higher inflation, and higher borrowing costs [1].
Critics of the BLS argue that it is overly reliant on 20th-century techniques, such as phone calls to ask people about their job status and manual price checks on store shelves. They also point to the BLS's use of the Birth-Death model, which has been criticized for overstating employment growth [1].
The BLS's staff has shrunk by 20% since January, due to a hiring freeze that has stalled onboarding across the federal government. This staffing shortage has made it difficult for the BLS to modernize its data collection methods [1].
The delay in the consumer expenditures report release may also be due to the BLS's recent focus on defending its data against political interference. McEntarfer claimed that she spent much of her tenure at the BLS guarding it against interference from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, team [1].
The BLS's delays and criticisms have raised questions about its ability to provide accurate and timely economic data. The agency's methods and staffing shortages have been a source of concern for investors and businesses, who rely on the BLS's data for decision-making [1].
The BLS's delays and criticisms have also raised questions about the future of the agency. Some argue that the government should not be involved in economic statistics at all. Others argue that the BLS needs to modernize its methods and staffing to provide accurate and timely data [1].
The BLS's delays and criticisms have also raised questions about the future of the agency. Some argue that the government should not be involved in economic statistics at all. Others argue that the BLS needs to modernize its methods and staffing to provide accurate and timely data [1].
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has rescheduled the release of its 2024 consumer expenditures data without providing a reason. The annual survey typically provides insights into consumer spending habits and is used to calculate inflation rates. The delay comes as the BLS has faced criticism for its handling of inflation data, with some arguing that its methods have overstated inflation rates. The release date for the 2024 data has not been announced.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has rescheduled the release of its 2024 consumer expenditures data without providing a reason. The annual survey, which typically provides insights into consumer spending habits and is used to calculate inflation rates, has been delayed. The release date for the 2024 data has not been announced [1].The delay comes as the BLS has faced criticism for its handling of inflation data. Some argue that the BLS's methods have overstated inflation rates. This criticism has been exacerbated by the recent firing of BLS Chief Erika McEntarfer, who claimed that the agency's data was being manipulated to make the economy look worse than it was [1].
McEntarfer pointed to other countries where statisticians have been pushed out over disappointing statistics, including Argentina, Greece, and Turkey. She suggested that the resulting loss of trust in economic statistics led to worsening economic crises, higher inflation, and higher borrowing costs [1].
Critics of the BLS argue that it is overly reliant on 20th-century techniques, such as phone calls to ask people about their job status and manual price checks on store shelves. They also point to the BLS's use of the Birth-Death model, which has been criticized for overstating employment growth [1].
The BLS's staff has shrunk by 20% since January, due to a hiring freeze that has stalled onboarding across the federal government. This staffing shortage has made it difficult for the BLS to modernize its data collection methods [1].
The delay in the consumer expenditures report release may also be due to the BLS's recent focus on defending its data against political interference. McEntarfer claimed that she spent much of her tenure at the BLS guarding it against interference from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, team [1].
The BLS's delays and criticisms have raised questions about its ability to provide accurate and timely economic data. The agency's methods and staffing shortages have been a source of concern for investors and businesses, who rely on the BLS's data for decision-making [1].
The BLS's delays and criticisms have also raised questions about the future of the agency. Some argue that the government should not be involved in economic statistics at all. Others argue that the BLS needs to modernize its methods and staffing to provide accurate and timely data [1].
The BLS's delays and criticisms have also raised questions about the future of the agency. Some argue that the government should not be involved in economic statistics at all. Others argue that the BLS needs to modernize its methods and staffing to provide accurate and timely data [1].
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