The Bureau of Labor Statistics is cutting back its collection of data on consumer prices, raising questions about the reliability of federal economic statistics under President Trump. #EconSky www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/b... - ThreadSky

bencasselman.bsky.social • 12 days ago

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is cutting back its collection of data on consumer prices, raising questions about the reliability of federal economic statistics under President Trump. #EconSky
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/business/bls-price-data-collection.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Mk8.jHeG.5Dy8qzueq7Hw&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Comments

reneecynthia.bsky.social•11 days ago

WOW! There are folks out there who have brains and actually use them

niftyfire25.bsky.social•12 days ago

Thank you for covering this very important topic!! This could lead to social security recipients receiving lower cost of living increases and everyday Americans paying higher taxes due to tax brackets being incorrectly adjusted.

ablington.bsky.social•12 days ago

well at least there wont be IRS employees to make sure youre paying taxes!

spin4srv.bsky.social•12 days ago

While they often back off policies when the equity or bond markets react strongly they won't be able to fix it if their undermining of market inputs cause dislocations.

co-wizard.bsky.social•11 days ago

Of course. They must feed the public false information. That’s part of the plan.

brooklyn3r.bsky.social•11 days ago

No news is good news.

geoff61.bsky.social•12 days ago

Of course, because they want to make up their own facts to feed their dimwit base.

trialrun2024.bsky.social•12 days ago

The dimwits are going to notice that they can't afford to fill their grocery cart... they'll only be fooled for a month or two.

brantman.bsky.social•12 days ago

I think you give them too much credit, Many still believe the orange menace is a great businessman, dealmaker, and president. Their capacity for self-deception is nearly boundless.

mylifeasabook.bsky.social•10 days ago

Agreed.
I don't think there's a day of enlightenment coming for them.
None of the horrors or disasters or clear cut criminality has broken thru for them thus far. They continue to rationalize. They may be forever bound in the cave, watching the shadows cast on the walls for them by their captors.

riley527.bsky.social•11 days ago

The point of NYT attacking transgender people is because trans people tell stories about themselves. This is an obstacle to those in power who seek to control the world through screens. Control what people see on the internet, and you could control everything. Trans is an obstacle to these ghouls.

sniffit.bsky.social•11 days ago

Same shit, different crisis...

https://www.voanews.com/a/covid-19-pandemic_trump-if-we-stop-testing-wed-have-fewer-cases/6191165.html

thesullivan.bsky.social•12 days ago

One can assume that the reliability of data collection and analysis across ALL departments of the federal government are now degraded to the point where they should no longer be trusted as they once were.

DOGE is the modern Inquisition.

We are entering into America's Dark Ages.

bencasselman.bsky.social•12 days ago

I don’t think we can assume that. I’m in touch with current and recently former people inside these agencies. They say the data they are producing is still reliable, and their methodologies remain transparent.

thesullivan.bsky.social•12 days ago

I applaud your optimism.

That being said, the DOGE damage is not trivial and the average American has no way of knowing which government assessments are based on good data and which ones are not.

Trust is a brittle thing that does not bounce back from rough treatment.

bencasselman.bsky.social•12 days ago

There are longstanding issues around falling response rates that will add volatility and noise to the data, and staff attrition (etc) will make that worse. But we’re talking about a gradual erosion not a sudden loss of reliability.

thesullivan.bsky.social•12 days ago

The arbitrary nature of the DOGE cuts means that we'd have to perform due diligence checks on each study and each pronouncement to /know/ that a thing is to be trusted.

Each time a report proves to be wrong - even if through normal analytic probability - it will injure one's faith in the system.

texaslopez.bsky.social•12 days ago

Ben, this isn't an accident. The Administration knows what they're cutting, and we all know that with less information to contradict them that makes it easier for them to lie about the economy. The only thing I'm astounded by at this point is how much leeway the media still gives them over this.

texaslopez.bsky.social•12 days ago

You assume this is just because the Administration is either too stupid or too incompetent to plan this, but I suspect if it was a Democratic Administration you'd make the assumption instead they knew what they were doing and be much harsher. Once again the GOP gets the dumb pass from the media.

bencasselman.bsky.social•12 days ago

I addressed this at more length here. This isn't about assuming or giving anyone a pass. It's based on what my reporting so far has found.

https://bsky.app/profile/bencasselman.bsky.social/post/3lquh263qcs2n

lorihjschaffer.bsky.social•11 days ago

When Musk/DOGE took over the OMB & all the other agencies of the US government, they fired competent employees & backfilled with stooges, wrote BS into all programs, & illegally breached all our personal data. All publications are now unreliable & no fraud/savings found.

https://www.npr.org/2025/06/02/nx-s1-5417994/former-doge-engineer-shares-his-experience-working-for-the-cost-cutting-unit

athenabird.bsky.social•12 days ago

We need an independent organization to collect ALL data. Is there a funder somewhere ?

greaterlaker.bsky.social•12 days ago

Those of us who have fucking brains have had the questions since before he even went through fucking inauguration

texaslopez.bsky.social•12 days ago

FTFY: Trump Administration Cuts Economic Data Collection

bpatter49.bsky.social•11 days ago

Inflation can’t go up if you don’t collect data

danalmont.bsky.social•11 days ago

📌

mermalm.bsky.social•11 days ago

This does not surprise me. I bet they’re trying to figure out how to undercount unemployment too.

bencasselman.bsky.social•12 days ago

Importantly, there is NO evidence of political interference in the economic data produced by BLS, Census and BEA. Rather, this is about gradual erosion in the quality of the data through underfunding, staff attrition, etc.

foodstooge.bsky.social•11 days ago

https://act.forwardblue.org/signup/202506-trump-data/?source=em20250604-1009&akid=1009%2E488157%2EnLUnuh

biggsmistake.bsky.social•12 days ago

Importantly, there is NO evidence of political interference, because I'm incapable of reading the rest of the sentence and realize those are political decisions

jaf777.bsky.social•12 days ago

Thanks for noting the thin silver lining we aren't seeing direct manipulations yet. Important to have a true understanding of where we are at. Definitely concerned it could be on the way. Already saw them delay a report on farm goods trade deficit and delet study showing low immigrant crime rates

texaslopez.bsky.social•12 days ago

You're so naive. It's not an accident.

robert-e-630.bsky.social•12 days ago

Interdasting

bencasselman.bsky.social•12 days ago

As @jedkolko.bsky.social put it to me: It’s “collateral damage rather than intentional harm, but still damage.”

lindabrooke6.bsky.social•12 days ago

Why do you think that this was not the intended consequence of the underfunding etc.?

bencasselman.bsky.social•12 days ago

Know something I should know? Reach me securely on Signal at bencasselman.96

ersatzgrace.bsky.social•12 days ago

It's changing the information available, which changes perception, ideation, problem solving, behaviors, actions, and environment.

One of our special qualities as a species is being able to trace ripple effects and change course based on new interpretation. No info, no change.

blisterrich.bsky.social•12 days ago

The underfunding is accidental? Mmmhh ok

Wanna play poker? For money?

edino.bsky.social•12 days ago

This is absolutely intentional. Republicans have been doing this since at least Reagan: “prove” that government can’t effectively or efficiently do good things by destroying the government, rendering it unable to effectively do good things.

neal58021.bsky.social•11 days ago

Says who? Believe them if you want.

bencasselman.bsky.social•11 days ago

Says numerous longstanding employees of these agencies, both current and former (including those who have been critical of the administration in other ways).

neal58021.bsky.social•11 days ago

Good for them.

stephenburtch.bsky.social•12 days ago

Isn't underfunding a form of political interference?

stephenburtch.bsky.social•12 days ago

The people who control the funding know what underfunding data collection will do to it. It is explicitly a political decision they are making.

raoul-ny.bsky.social•11 days ago

Ah. Your attorney spoke with you, did she?

ersatzgrace.bsky.social•12 days ago

section 80151 of the BB Bill is shifting env. reviews of resource extraction to opt-in. Good bet they are aimed at hindering data-based arguments for malfeasance and/or broad hardship.

While increasing ideological surveillance: medicare, immigrants, colleges, more

ersatzgrace.bsky.social•12 days ago

And what doesn't seem to be getting attention (yet?) is sec. 50002, which is a new public company accounting oversight system for the SEC and shifts to Sarbanes-Oxley oversight and fee capture.

19thgrade.bsky.social•12 days ago

No evidence of political interference in economic data yet
Wait for it

chris-kraft.bsky.social•12 days ago

Cutting funding is political interference, it’s really not that tough

markr51.bsky.social•11 days ago

So: caused by political interference?

hodofyle.bsky.social•11 days ago

Cuz when it ain’t workin’, lying is the easy way out. More Greatness.

noshenanigans.bsky.social•11 days ago

Give it time, and the Trump WH economic stats will be totally fabricated to suit the 🍊🤴 and have no bearing on reality. It is hard to believe the world is only 6 months into his open-ended reign.

kcgreen.bsky.social•11 days ago

4.5, but who’s counting? 🙄😖

tommyhorse.bsky.social•11 days ago

Of course these numbers make him
Look bad

hartsigns.bsky.social•11 days ago

lol was there a any doubt a liar would lie? You people are unserious

sdamackay.bsky.social•11 days ago

No data means no accountability or ability to make decisions. Ignorance is Strength! Orwell, in the great beyond, is screaming, “I told you, you fuckers!”

nicegitch.bsky.social•11 days ago

Keep them on the boat, I don't want my numbers to go up.

financeandstuff.bsky.social•9 days ago

Doesn’t this open the government to lawsuits from anyone who receives inflation-adjusted benefits like Social Security or invested in TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities)?

phonon.bsky.social•12 days ago

‘we stopped testing right now,’ we’d have very few COVID-19 cases

completelyunsure.bsky.social•11 days ago

He likes the numbers where they are.

spanymom.bsky.social•11 days ago

No data, no lies.

jedi2023.bsky.social•12 days ago

Welcome to the era of Orwellian economics …,

paradigm317.bsky.social•11 days ago

When they fuck around w data it’s over imo

justvisiting74.bsky.social•11 days ago

Trump on covid: ‘If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any’.

upstateny.bsky.social•11 days ago

Soooo.....LYING and purposely not giving information?

joeyn-inpa.bsky.social•11 days ago

Next thing you know, “inflation is totally under control.”

sweetrhesus.bsky.social•12 days ago

One way to manipulate data..dont collect it

ladyvibrato.bsky.social•12 days ago

In three months: "the Bureau of Labor Statistics has stopped issuing economic reports entirely, raising questions about the availability of such reports. Critics say the total lack of economic data collection or reporting will make it more difficult to understand the state of the economy."

barbaraolszewski.bsky.social•10 days ago

But global investors will notice…that will hurt 🇺🇸

delavega717.bsky.social•11 days ago

Just like no reporting on covid or bird flu

bichonlady.bsky.social•11 days ago

Reliability 😂😂😂😂

carolann7009.bsky.social•11 days ago

Nothing can be trusted under thos regime. Whatever they say is opposite of truth, and anything they accuse others of is a confession.

realgoodtrouble.bsky.social•11 days ago

Sure, Jan. It’s political interference. We will not be able to trust any data touched by the Trump admin

lawny.bsky.social•11 days ago

Nothing ubder T is reliable

daisymurphy.bsky.social•11 days ago

That’s one way to control inflation. Just don’t study inflation. Genius.

jayzz.bsky.social•12 days ago

We need to be skeptical of a lot of what comes from the federal government under the current GOP and Trump.

plumstock.bsky.social•11 days ago

The Trump Administration will lie. They always do.

dstowe1.bsky.social•12 days ago

Job reports - unemployment numbers - rising inflation - deficit spending…None can be trusted.

yvettejr718.bsky.social•11 days ago

I NEVER believe any statistics coming out of this White House or Administration.

nectere.bsky.social•11 days ago

I wanted to buy a lemon today at a regular grocery store. A single lemon...99 cents. The limes for .63 a piece. Thats insanity. I did not buy the lemon or the limes, no zest for us!

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply