White House says October jobs and inflation data may never be released because of the shutdown

Key economic reports for October may not be released at all because of the government shutdown, a senior White House official said Wednesday.

With the spending impasse appearing to be near an end, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that part of the fallout could be lasting damage to the government's data collection ability.

"The Democrats may have permanently damaged the Federal Statistical system with October CPI and jobs reports likely never being released," Leavitt said. "All of that economic data released will be permanently impaired, leaving our policymakers at the Fed, flying blind at a critical period."

Release of important economic data has been at the forefront of Wall Street concerns as the shutdown dragged on for more than six weeks, the longest in hi