Donald Trump nominated E.J. Antoni as the new Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner, following the dismissal of the previous leader after a weak jobs report. Antoni, currently at the Heritage Foundation, faces Senate confirmation. The BLS, with a staff of around 2,300, is under scrutiny for data quality. Its reports influence global markets.
The previous commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, was fired after weaker-than-expected job growth figures and revisions. Trump accused her of data manipulation, without evidence. Antoni, an economist with a doctorate, will address challenges like declining survey responses.
The BLS's reports include job creation, unemployment, and inflation data. The CPI and PPI, key inflation measures, are facing challenges, including staffing shortages. The agency has also been impacted by a hiring freeze, raising concerns about data accuracy among economists and former BLS leaders.
5 Comments
Rotfront
At least Trump is trying to fix issues in our economy! Lets see what the man has to say, with no judgements.
Karamba
The Heritage Foundation is composed of intelligent people, lets see what they will bring to our country.
Matzomaster
Firing the last commissioner and accusing her of manipulation? Unsubstantiated claims and politicizing data is destructive!
Habibi
Looking forward to seeing what improvements Antoni brings to the BLS. Let's hope for more reliable data.
ZmeeLove
I don't care if he has a doctorate. He's coming from a highly partisan organization. The data is going to be compromised.