By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump’s unwarranted attacks on the integrity of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics were undermining trust in economic data and had accelerated retirements of key personnel at the agency, former BLS commissioners said on Wednesday.

During a discussion at the libertarian Cato Institute, Erica Groshen and William Beach, who headed the agency under presidents of both parties, said the BLS had lost 12 of its 35 senior leaders. The agency produces the closely watched employment and inflation reports among others.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the agency, claiming without evidence that it was faking the jobs numbers.

“Trust … for statistical agencies, it is mission critical. Unwarranted attacks on the integrity of BLS and the other p

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