Addressing missing consumer expenditure data due to the 2025 lapse in appropriations

As a result of a lapse in appropriations in 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was unable to collect data for the Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) in October and November 2025. This article describes the approaches considered and analysis conducted by BLS to address the missing data. The research includes consultation with expert panels, comparisons of simulation data and production data for different approaches, and ultimately, the use of a survey weight adjustment factor to account for the missing CE data. The article also discusses the planned publication schedule for BLS products affected by the missing CE data, as well as future research plans. From October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025, a lapse in federal appropriations halted data collection activities for the Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE). Although the federal government received funding again on November 13, 2025, data collection for the surveys did not resume until December 5, 2025.