The U.S. Commerce Department’s Census Bureau will release several key economic reports next week after a historic government shutdown halted federal data collection for more than a month. The delayed releases include August figures for construction spending, factory orders and international trade — all critical indicators used by markets, policymakers and businesses to gauge the state of the U.S. economy.
Officials said the construction spending report will be published Monday, followed by factory orders on Tuesday and the international trade data on Wednesday. All three reports were originally scheduled for early October but were pushed back after the federal government entered a 43-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history.
The shutdown affected nearly every major economic data release and paused ongoing survey operations. Monthly jobs numbers, inflation reports and retail sales data — among the most influential indicators for policymakers — were also delayed or temporarily suspended.
In a statement, the agency emphasized its effort to get the release calendar back on track. "The U.S. Census Bureau will continue updating its economic indicator release calendar in coordination with other agencies and the Office of Management and Budget to address the impacts of the recent lapse in federal funding," the bureau said. "We will provide the updated release dates as soon as they become available."
Economists, financial analysts and investors rely on real-time federal data to assess economic momentum and predict Federal Reserve decisions. The month-long blackout left many operating without the most authoritative statistics, prompting reliance on private-sector estimates and incomplete data.
With inflation pressures, supply chain shifts and interest rate uncertainty still shaping the economic landscape, the delayed releases are expected to draw heightened attention as markets look to determine whether momentum strengthened or weakened in late summer.
Construction spending numbers will be closely watched given the industry’s uneven performance this year. Large-scale factory, semiconductor, renewable energy and data center investment has surged due to federal incentives — but commercial real estate, office construction and some housing markets have cooled due to financing challenges.
The August report may show whether federally backed industrial projects continued to offset weakness elsewhere, and whether residential construction began to stabilize as mortgage rates showed early signs of leveling.
The factory orders report is especially important as U.S. manufacturers navigate a mixed environment — resilient demand in aerospace, auto and electronics, but softer orders in consumer goods and durable equipment. August figures will help clarify whether manufacturers are still expanding or beginning to scale back.
The trade report will offer insight into U.S. export strength, import patterns from China and Mexico, and shifting supply chains as companies diversify sourcing. With tensions between the U.S. and China still shaping global logistics, any swings in the trade balance may carry policy implications.
The 43-day shutdown not only delayed data releases but also created gaps in statistical collection that may require adjustments or revisions. Agencies across the federal government — from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to the Bureau of Economic Analysis — are coordinating to realign the schedule and preserve long-term data consistency.
Federal agencies are expected to publish revised calendars through the Office of Management and Budget in the coming weeks as they work through the backlog.
Originally reported by Reuters.
