As the Trump administration prepares to potentially block the release of critical economic data during a Republican-driven government shutdown, the latest available figures from the Conference Board and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the Trump economy is struggling to create jobs, and consumer confidence is in steep decline.
According to the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index, U.S. consumer confidence plunged to 94.2 in September, the lowest level since April. Consumers are increasingly worried about current business conditions and the lack of available jobs, signaling growing unease about the nation’s economic health.
Meanwhile, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for August indicates that job openings are slipping, and the labor market is barely moving, with hires and separations remaining flat at 5.1 million.
If Republicans refuse to fund health care, the government will shut down, and the Trump administration will use the excuse to halt the release of important economic data, potentially for weeks, leaving the JOLTS report as the last glimpse of the true state of the economy.
Families are already feeling the squeeze from rising grocery bills, higher energy costs, and the financial pressure brought on by Trump’s tariffs. Now, Republicans are refusing to provide relief for working class households by funding critical tax credits to make health care insurance affordable.
“Trump is clearly trying to bury economic data so he can keep misleading the American people about the economy, but the facts are undeniable: his policies are slowing growth and driving up costs for families,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Brandon Weathersby. “Trump and Republicans would rather shut down the government than fund health care because it gives them cover to hide the consequences of their failures. Blocking economic data and shutting down the government in the middle of a labor slowdown puts politics first and the American people last.”
Published: Sep 30, 2025