Government shutdown means Fed lacks crucial data as it considers rate cuts

The Federal Reserve is already staring down the difficult task of determining interest-rate policy in the midst of a sluggish labor market and high inflation. Now the government shutdown could make the central bank’s job even harder by delaying the release of important economic data, like this month’s job report.

Fed officials have navigated shutdowns before, but current economic conditions, including rising inflation and a softening job market, make this one especially challenging.