Marketplace The BLS has a $700 million budget. What's its ROI?
19 snips
Sep 9, 2025 Budget cuts loom over the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but its $700 million investment yields vital data for federal decision-making. Recent job growth figures revealed nearly a million fewer jobs added than reported. Meanwhile, tech companies are staggering layoffs despite hefty AI investments. Economic uncertainty is driving gold prices sky-high, with safe-haven investments flourishing. Falling mortgage rates may benefit buyers but signal deeper economic troubles. Accurate economic data remains crucial amid shifting landscapes.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Revisions Reveal Labor Market Slowdown
- The 911,000-job downward revision reflects the labor market slowing and survey-to-census adjustment, not fraud.
- Annual BLS benchmark revisions reconcile monthly surveys with payroll tax records to reveal trend shifts.
Birth‑Death Model Drives Big Revisions
- Big revisions usually mean the BLS birth-death model misestimated firm entries or exits.
- The revision itself becomes an economic indicator about business openings and closings.
Trust Data Unless Proven Otherwise
- Don't assume politicization implies compromised data quality without evidence.
- Trust the BLS's integrity unless clear proof shows otherwise, experts say.