Bureau of Labor Statistics: We're reducing the CPI sample in areas across the country.

Bureau of Labor Statistics: We're reducing the CPI sample in areas across the country.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has announced a reduction in the number of businesses it checks prices at for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, citing staffing shortages as the primary reason. This development is a result of hiring freezes implemented during the Trump administration, which have left the federal government understaffed [1].

The BLS, the economic statistics arm of the Labor Department, has temporarily reduced the number of outlets and quotes it attempts to collect for the CPI report, starting in April. A BLS email shared with the Wall Street Journal explained that these procedures will remain in place until the hiring freeze is lifted and additional staff can be hired and trained [1].

This reduction in sample size is expected to affect the accuracy of the CPI report, which is a key indicator of inflation. However, the BLS has assured that the impact will be minimal and that major labor force measures, such as the unemployment rate, will remain unaffected [2].

In addition to the CPI report, the BLS has also announced plans to correct minor errors in April's jobs data. These corrections will be made in the figures released for May and will not significantly impact key measures such as the unemployment rate [2].

The staffing shortages at the BLS highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the federal government in maintaining its economic data collection efforts. As the economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, accurate and timely economic data will be crucial for policymakers and investors alike.

References:
[1] https://au.investing.com/news/economy-news/cpi-data-collection-hit-by-staffing-shortages-wsj-says-93CH-3876761
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-03/bls-says-it-will-correct-minor-errors-in-april-s-us-jobs-data