A six-day federal shutdown in October 2025 halted key economic data releases, fueling recession fears and disrupting decision-making.

A federal shutdown now in its sixth day has stalled key U.S. economic reports, including jobs and inflation data, fueling fears of stagflation and recession. With hiring slowing and prices rising, the data freeze hampers decision-making for businesses, consumers, and the Federal Reserve. While past shutdowns had limited GDP impact, the current information gap is proving more disruptive. Furloughs persist as nonprofits in San Antonio report rising demand for aid. Meanwhile, Apple and Google removed immigration reporting apps, OpenAI launched AI copyright controls, and Berkshire Hathaway invested $9.7 billion in Occidental Petroleum’s chemical arm.