The Trump administration announced the cancellation of the advance estimate for gross domestic product for the third quarter of 2025. This was originally scheduled for release on October 30. The Bureau of Economic Analysis cited recent federal government shutdown disruptions as the official reason for delaying the critical economic indicator.
Note that the cancellation also follows previous delays affecting multiple economic reports. These include the monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the inflation report. Other data releases, such as the personal income, spending, and savings report, have been rescheduled, creating significant gaps in 2025 economic information.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, attributing the disruptions to the federal statistical system, which she claimed may have been permanently damaged during the recent shutdown. Leavitt further cautioned that economic data for October 2025 could also be impaired, signaling potential additional delays in official releases.
The cancellation prevents public access to data that could reflect the impacts of policies under the second Trump administration. Withholding GDP figures undermines transparency and complicates market assessments, public planning, and policy evaluation, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty and significant federal policy changes.
Note that two policies have drawn attention for potential negative economic effects. The American Immigration Council estimated that mass deportation programs could reduce GDP by 4.2 to 6.8 percent. Broad reciprocal tariffs are projected by the Tax Foundation to further slow economic growth due to impacts on trade and domestic consumption.
The timing of the cancellation is significant because the U.S. economy experienced contraction during the first quarter of 2025. The slowdown is attributed to trade disruptions caused by tariffs, elevated inflation, and weakened consumer confidence, highlighting the necessity for up-to-date GDP reporting to monitor ongoing economic performance.
Selective cancellation of economic data could compromise the credibility of federal statistical agencies. The perceived politicization of economic reporting erodes public trust, reduces market predictability, and bars businesses, investors, and policymakers from making informed decisions regarding fiscal and specific monetary strategies.
FURTHER READINGS AND REFERENCES
- American Immigration Council. 2 October 2024. “Mass Deportation: Devastating Costs to Americans, Its Budget, and Economy.” American Immigration Council. Available online
- Bureau of Economic Analysis. 24 November 2025. “Economic Release Schedule Updates.” Official Blog. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Available online
- York, E. and Durante, A. 17 November 2025. “Trump Tariffs: Tracking the Economic Impact of the Trump Trade War.” Tax Foundation. Available online