The Federal Reserve is approaching a pivotal moment for monetary policy just as the government shutdown has cut off access to its most important economic data, raising questions about how the central bank is gathering information.

This week, the government shut down for the first time since 2019. Agencies across the board have been forced to send employees home and only conduct essential work. One casualty of the shutdown with outside implications is the publication of key economic reports, such as the monthly employment and inflation reports.

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