When a government shutdown halts the release of essential economic data, economists lose the nation’s most reliable gauges of employment, growth and inflation. But they don’t stop analyzing – they start improvising.

Box office receipts, restaurant reservations, cardboard production, even data on garbage collection can give valuable clues to how American businesses and households are faring, particularly in this time of broad economic uncertainty. And while economists agree none can replace the scope and rigor of federal figures, until that data starts flowing again, analysts are turning to an amalgamation of narrower public and private figures to try to understand the economic trends.

“Economists are curious people,” said Allen Bellas, economics and finance professor at Metro State Unive

See Full Page