As the federal government resumes operations after the shutdown, attention is quickly shifting back to the flow of critical U.S. economic data that had been frozen for weeks. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) confirmed on Friday that the first delayed report will finally be published next week, offering markets their first official glimpse of September’s job performance.

According to a notice posted on its website, the BLS plans to release the September nonfarm payrolls report on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Real earnings data, which normally accompanies the consumer price index (CPI), will follow on Friday. That release had been postponed because average hourly earnings — included in the payrolls report — were not available during the shutdown. Real earnings reflect the gap between CPI readings and changes in average pay.

During the shutdown, September’s CPI was the only major indicator published, largely because Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment depends on it. Everything else ground to a halt, leaving investors, economists and policymakers navigating without the usual stream of official metrics.

Even as data begins to reappear, economists warn that the first major release may be incomplete. The “employment situation” report relies on two surveys: one drawing from payroll records at businesses, and another based on household responses about employment status. The household survey is essential for calculating the unemployment rate, but replicating it retrospectively is difficult. As a result, analysts expect Thursday’s report to include only the nonfarm payrolls count, without the jobless rate.

The Commerce Department, which oversees the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), has not yet published updated release schedules. Its forthcoming decisions will determine the timeline for GDP updates, personal consumption data, and other indicators that guide financial markets and the Federal Reserve.

The absence of reliable numbers is already creating complications. Bank of America economist Shruti Mishra described recent conditions as a “data fog,” forcing both investors and the Fed to rely on alternative indicators rather than official statistics. With the shutdown now resolved, Mishra expects a rapid return of delayed releases, but warns that it will take time to sort through gaps in collection, especially for data normally gathered through in-person visits.

One major casualty could be the October CPI report. Because BLS relies heavily on field interviews and on-site price checks, the data cannot be recreated after the fact. White House officials acknowledged this possibility earlier in the week. The BLS is asking for patience as it evaluates how much information can be salvaged and works with the BEA and other agencies on rescheduling.

The delays have already sparked political frustration. Several Democratic senators — including Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Maria Cantwell and Gary Peters — sent a letter to the administration arguing that shutdowns do not necessarily prevent data collection or publication. Pointing to the handling of the 2013 shutdown, they suggested the administration may be withholding information that businesses, workers and policymakers urgently need. They urged officials to release as much data as possible before the Federal Reserve’s December meeting.

For now, the administration has not provided additional public clarification. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said Friday that payroll and price data must be reviewed for accuracy before being published, and she expects BLS to outline a clearer schedule soon. She added that the White House has emphasized the importance of producing reliable numbers for November.

Some private-sector economists remain hopeful. Citigroup’s Andrew Hollenhorst said he expects the Fed to have access to jobs data for September, October and November in time for its next policy meeting on Dec. 9–10. Earlier Fed projections suggested that a rate cut in December was likely, though several officials have recently signaled hesitation about further easing without solid data.

Beyond employment figures and inflation metrics, the BLS is also responsible for import and export prices, job openings, producer prices, productivity numbers and more. The Labor Department publishes weekly jobless claims, while the Commerce Department oversees personal income and spending, the PCE price index — the Fed’s preferred inflation measure — and GDP. The Census Bureau handles retail sales and trade data.

Whether all these reports can be restored to their original schedules remains unclear. But with financial markets, businesses and policymakers all depending on timely economic guidance, the rush to bring the system back online is now fully underway.