Data on the state of the job market in October and November is set to be released at 8:30 a.m. ET today, along with retail sales numbers for October. Almost all economic reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau have been delayed due to the historically long federal shutdown, which hamstrung data collection. The Federal Reserve has been facing two concurrent problems: The job market is getting worse, while inflation is on the rise. Through its various tools, the central bank can support the job market or control inflation – but it can’t do both at the same time. Main Street and Wall Street may be rooting for different outcomes from today’s jobs report. While a strong report could relieve consumers concerned about rising unemployment, it may also reignite concerns among investors about whether the Fed can continue cutting rates in early 2026. How strong is USA economy?
