General Discussion

To be clear, that is not happening here. This issue is a byproduct of not being able to collect any data for a month and a half. Given that CPI data measures prices at a specific point in time every month, it is not possible to go backward and collect accurate data after the fact.

In addition, we already know that the huge exodous of Federal employees in february and March have caused staff shortages at BLS that mean they cannot collect the full range of data od prices that they normally have in the past.

These factors have combined to make the data likely less reliable, but it is still honest data being produced by career civil servants with the best tools they have available. I hope people will refrain from saying things like "all data from Trump is bullshit". Staements like those only make the person saying them look stupid while unfairly disparaging honest hard working civil servants at BLS. (Sadly, I'm sure we will have plenty of people here who are sure they know better.)