The Bureau of Labor Statistics has postponed the release of a key annual report central to future inflation data

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has delayed the release of a major annual report that serves as a foundation for inflation calculations, sparking concerns over both accuracy and potential political interference in economic data.

In a surprise notice Friday, the agency said its 2024 consumer spending report — originally scheduled for release next Tuesday — would be “rescheduled to a later date.” No reason was provided, nor was a new timeline offered, with the Bureau stating only that users would be notified once more information became available.

Each September, the Bureau publishes the prior year’s average household expenditure data. The 2023 report, issued last year, showed average spending of $77,280 per consumer unit — a 5.9% increase from 2022 — while pre-tax income rose 8.3%.

The annual consumer spending survey is unique: it is the only dataset produced by the U.S. government that comprehensively details household income, expenditures, and demographics. Crucially, it determines the weighting of goods and services in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the following year, making it essential to inflation tracking.

What has heightened attention is the opaque handling of this year’s delay. The Bureau offered no explanation beyond the postponement itself, and the Department of Labor, which oversees the agency, has so far declined to comment.