Definition
The part of the US Labor Department that measures jobs, wages and prices. It publishes the monthly jobs report, CPI (Consumer Price Index) and PPI (Producer Price Index), usually at 7:30 AM CT (Central Time), and JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) at 9:00 AM CT.
The story
On Oct 14, 2026, the BLS reported that consumer prices rose 0.6% in September and were up 3.7% from a year earlier, with gasoline alone up 9.1% in a month. Stocks opened lower (Reuters), and by the close the Nasdaq was down 1.9% (AP).
Why markets watch it
Many of the biggest scheduled market movers of the month come from one agency, on a calendar it publishes in advance.
Connects to
Last seen in
We explain why it moves markets. What you do with it is your call. Commentary and education only. Not financial advice. All terms