The release of annual U.S. consumer spending data will be delayed, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics has "rarely" refused to explain the reason.
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has postponed an annual report that is critical to future inflation data, a move that comes amid growing concerns about the accuracy and politicization risks of key U.S. economic data.
On Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suddenly announced that the release of the 2024 annual consumer expenditure data, originally scheduled for next Tuesday, will be "rescheduled to a later date." The Bureau did not explain the reason for the delay nor provide a new timeline for release, stating only that "users will be informed when more information is available."
(The official website of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the release of annual consumer expenditure data will be postponed)
Each year around September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the previous year's annual average expenditure data. For example, the 2023 data was released in September 2024, showing average spending per consumer unit as $77,280 (a 5.9% increase over 2022), and a 8.3% increase in pre-tax income.
This annual report provides the only comprehensive household survey data from the U.S. government on consumer spending and income, covering consumer activity, expenditures, income, and demographic information. More importantly, this data is used to determine the weights of specific goods and services in the next year's Consumer Price Index.
Rare Delay Without Explanation
What has drawn market attention to this postponement is mainly its “unusually” silent manner.
In its announcement, the Bureau merely referenced the delay, but provided no background or explanation. The U.S. Department of Labor (which oversees the Bureau) has also not commented.
Analysts have noted that this stands in sharp contrast to last year.
Omair Sharif of Inflation Insights stated in an email that last year, the report was also delayed, but at that time the Bureau clearly stated the new release date and explained that the delay was due to a need to correct an error. He added:
Today's announcement provides no information about the reason for the delay or about a new release date, which is a bit odd.
However, Omair Sharif analyzed that:
Ultimately, as long as the annual data can be finalized by the end of the year, there should be ample time to incorporate the new weights into the January 2026 CPI to be released in mid-February 2026.
Former Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner William Beach believes the delay may simply be because the release work is “not completely ready yet,” and called it a “tricky data release.” However, he also cautioned:
If there are further delays, then I would be concerned.
U.S. Statistics Agencies Face Staff Shortages and Political Pressure
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is facing political pressure, staff shortages, and limited resources.
Last month, after U.S. employment data was sharply revised downward, confirming a slowdown in the labor market, President Trump fired then-director Erika McEntarfer.
The White House then nominated economist E.J. Antoni to lead the agency, but some well-known conservative economists criticized the nomination as partisan, and questioned his professional qualifications.
Earlier this month, the Labor Department’s internal inspector general launched an investigation into the Bureau's economic data collection, citing the agency's “challenges in collecting and reporting high-profile economic data.” McEntarfer, who was recently dismissed, said at an event:
I think we're all now worried about the future of national economic data. I can vouch for the accuracy and independence of the agency's work while I was there before my dismissal, but the future is an uncertain time.
Apart from the shadow of political interference, the agency is under intense pressure from staff shortages, limited resources, and budget cuts.
According to reports, due to staffing and budget issues, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has already cut certain CPI categories and reduced data collection in specific regions.
Moreover, the Census Bureau faces plummeting survey response rates in general, which has seriously undermined the accuracy of employment and other data.
It is reported that the Bureau is seeking to hire more staff to bolster price data collection in major metropolitan areas.
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