Federal government no longer collecting inflation data in Lincoln

[UpInArms]

Source: Lincoln Journal Star

Lincoln is one of the communities where the Labor Department is no longer collecting data for its most closely watched inflation measure because of the Trump administration's government hiring freeze.

The department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, which produces the monthly consumer price index, said Wednesday that it is "reducing sample in areas across the country." The department said it stopped collecting price data entirely in April in Lincoln and Provo, Utah. It also said it has stopped collecting data this month in Buffalo, New York.

The cuts are raising concerns among economists about the quality of the inflation figures just as they are being closely watched for the impact of tariffs.

In an email that the BLS sent to economists, viewed by The Associated Press, the agency said that it "temporarily reduced the number of outlets and quotes it attempted to collect due to a staffing shortage" in April. The reduced data collection "will be kept in place until the hiring freeze is lifted."

Read more: https://archive.ph/jBp3b

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Federal data will continue to degrade

[Silent Type]

1. Suspect one could get accurate data with fewer than 75 areas now, at least short-term. Plus, economists

will have chance of a lifetime to challenge any misleading data. Will be interesting to watch how trump’s admin is criticized if he fudges.

[cstanleytech]

2. They are weaponizing the data collection to attack Social Security increases as it depends on the data.

[James48]

3. Of course they are.

So nobody will see inflation hemlock higher as those tariffs kick in on everything imported. They will just carry over the last month, and then just drop it out. No more apples to apples inflation data.

[Vthestate]

4. just like Covid tests.... less tests less sickness...just wow

The staffing shortage will continue to effect data accuracy for market predictors. Inflation maybe on a steady rise.....and like efficiency who cares. It will take real pain/costs for MAGA's to recognize what is being done.

[mdbl]

5. Well that negates the jobs report they just released.