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Trump’s data war risks creating false calm

These public attacks could cause economic data, research and forecasts to become more pro-government or lead to self-censorship

Summarise
    • If political bias in official data and forecasting were to emerge, one might expect to see firmer job creation and softer inflation read-outs. But any weakness in the real economy would become evident eventually.
    • If political bias in official data and forecasting were to emerge, one might expect to see firmer job creation and softer inflation read-outs. But any weakness in the real economy would become evident eventually. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

    Mike Dolan

    Published Thu, Aug 14, 2025 · 05:00 PM

    POLITICAL pressure on government statisticians and private forecasters risks sending markets down a rabbit hole, which could suppress volatility today but lead to seismic reality checks in the future.

    US President Donald Trump has side-swiped both private and public sector economists this month, firing the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) boss for what he described as “rigged” jobs data and then lambasting Goldman Sachs for tariff-related research he did not agree with.

    These moves seem alarming, even if there are some mitigating factors.

    Donald TrumpData governanceJobsUS inflationTrump tariffs

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