Marketplace All-in-One When government data is called into question
Aug 14, 2025
The podcast dives into the controversy surrounding the firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner and its implications for economic data reliability. It questions the quality of government data versus private sources, impacting business decisions. Listeners learn about the recent uptick in wholesale inflation and its potential effects on interest rates. Additionally, the resurgence of adjustable-rate mortgages is discussed as an affordable housing solution amid rising prices. It’s an insightful look at the intersection of data, policy, and personal finance.
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Wholesale Inflation Could Delay Rate Cuts
- Wholesale inflation jumped sharply in July, signaling firms are passing higher costs to consumers.
- Diane Swonk warns this could keep inflation rising and affect Fed rate-cut decisions.
Retailers Rely On Local Private Data
- Tractor Supply uses private data from Morning Consult to target ex-urban and rural customers.
- Michael Strain and Matt Levin emphasize private data's local specificity for business decisions.
Public Data Underpins Private Providers
- Government statistics remain the gold standard because they are publicly available and nationally representative.
- Private data often benchmarks against BLS and depends on high-quality public statistics.