Fed struggles to assess state of US economy as government shutdown shuts off key data

The shutdown has closed off some of the Fed’s key economic data taps. picture alliance/Getty Images

When it comes to setting monetary policy for the world’s largest economy, what data drives decision-making?

In ordinary times, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and voting members of the Federal Open Market Committee, which usually meets eight times a year, have a wealth of information at their disposal, including key statistics such as monthly employment and extensive inflation data.