How a government shutdown could complicate Fed’s fight against inflation

The U.S. government is on pace for a partial shutdown in less than two days, leaving the next major U.S. inflation report in a state of limbo with the potential to inject uncertainty into the minds of inflation traders and central bank officials.

The September consumer-price index, set for release on Oct. 12, could go “missing” or be delayed, which might force the government to rely on a replacement index, according to Morgan Stanley strategists Francesco Grechi and Ariana Salvatore, along with economist Ellen Zentner.