Data (un)reliability

Substantial downward revisions to May and June US payrolls data, the subsequent dismissal of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner, and a large downward revision to the level of employment in the BLS’ recent annual benchmark review have fueled concerns about US economic data quality. But such concerns aren’t new or unique to the US. So, how concerned should policymakers, investors, and the public really be about the quality of global economic data, and what’s at stake if growing concerns prove warranted?

Listen to Podcast