The U.S. government is nearing its longest shutdown in history, with Republicans and Democrats still at loggerheads over the nation’s budget. While the standoff shows no immediate sign of easing, investors and policy decision-makers are flying blind without federal data to help color their perceptions about the health of the economy.
The Fed has already gone through one interest rate meeting without key data about its mandate: maximum employment and a stable rate of inflation. Investors are also entering another month without significant barometers and may be turning to private surveys in a hunt for clues.
