Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a federal agency that collects and disseminates various data about the U.S. economy and labor market. Its reports include the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI), both of which are considered to be important measures of inflation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is an American government agency tasked with collecting and disseminating a range of economic and employment data. The BLS is responsible for two key inflation indicators: the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI). Some of the most important statistical releases published by the BLS include: **The Consumer Price Index** (CPI): An aggregate of the prices of a relatively fixed basket of goods, which is used as a standard gauge of inflation and the cost of living. **The Producer Price Index** (PPI): A measure of the average prices American producers receive for their goods and services. **Local Area Unemployment Statistics** (LAUS): A range of localized data about labor efficiency and unemployment. **The National Compensation Survey** (NCS): Produces comprehensive aggregates of workers' earnings across a variety of sectors. **Current Population Survey** (CPS): Sponsored jointly with the Census Bureau When the Department of Commerce and Labor was renamed the Department of Commerce (DOC) in 1913, the BLS, along with other bureaus and agencies concerned with labor, was then transferred into the newly-created DOL, a US cabinet-level agency responsible for enforcing federal labor standards and promoting workers' wellbeing. The primary purpose of the BLS, an arm of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), is to research, assemble, and publish a range of statistical data on the labor market, prices, and productivity.
What Is the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a federal agency that collects and disseminates various data about the U.S. economy and labor market. Its reports include the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI), both of which are considered to be important measures of inflation.
Understanding the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The primary purpose of the BLS, an arm of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), is to research, assemble, and publish a range of statistical data on the labor market, prices, and productivity. This government agency goes to great lengths to ensure the accuracy, impartiality, and accessibility of its reports and the statistics it produces are among the most influential economic indicators for the American economy.
BLS data is frequently cited by the media and relied on by businesses, academics, and policymakers to inform their decision making. It's also closely watched by economists and market participants, who consult the bureau's releases to generate better and more accurate predictions for how the economy and markets will perform in the future.
Throughout its history, the BLS has been relied upon for empirical evidence to inform economic policy, including to justify raising the minimum wage.
Most Important Data Releases
Some of the most important statistical releases published by the BLS include:
History of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The BLS was first established as a branch of the Department of the Interior in 1884 with a mandate to research and compile information about economics and labor. For nearly 15 years, it subsequently operated as an independent department, before being incorporated into the short-lived Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903.
That move only lasted a decade. When the Department of Commerce and Labor was renamed the Department of Commerce (DOC) in 1913, the BLS, along with other bureaus and agencies concerned with labor, was then transferred into the newly-created DOL, a US cabinet-level agency responsible for enforcing federal labor standards and promoting workers' wellbeing.
Related terms:
Basket of Goods
A basket of goods is defined as a constant set of consumer products and services valued on an annual basis and used to calculate the consumer price index (CPI). read more
Consumer Spending
Consumer spending is the amount of money spent on consumption goods in an economy. read more
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change in prices over time that consumers pay for a basket of goods and services. read more
Current Population Survey
Current Population Survey is a statistical survey of households that is performed by the U.S. Census Bureau of Labor Statistics on a monthly basis. read more
Department of Commerce (DOC)
Department of Commerce is the cabinet department in the U.S. government that deals with business, trade, and commerce to ensure economic vitality. read more
Department of Labor (DOL)
The U.S. Department of Labor is a cabinet-level agency responsible for enforcing federal labor standards. read more
Economic Indicator
An economic indicator refers to data, usually at the macroeconomic scale, that is used to gauge the health or growth trends of a nation's economy, or of a specific industry sector. read more
What Is an Economist?
An economist is an expert who studies the relationship between a society's resources and its production or output, using a number of indicators to predict future trends. read more
Import and Export Price Indexes (MXP)
The import and export price indexes (MXP) measure the prices of non-military goods and services coming in and out of the U.S. read more