The federal government will stop producing key economic data if government funding elapses Wednesday, depriving policymakers and investors of crucial information amid deep concerns about the job market.

If President Trump and Democratic lawmakers fail to reach a funding deal before a Wednesday deadline, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will shutter until the shutdown is over, according to a contingency plan released Monday by the Labor Department.

That would prevent BLS from releasing the highly anticipated September jobs report on Friday as scheduled, and could delay the agency's collection of other key economic data. BLS also produces consumer price index (CPI) data on inflation and wages — both of which are closely watched by policymakers and investors.

"A lot of economic data ca

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