The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday postponed the release of a key annual report central to future inflation data. Why it matters: The BLS " charged with collecting critical data on employment, prices and more " did not explain the reasoning for the delay or when it might ultimately be released. There is heightened concern about the future of U.S. statistics, including the politicization and accuracy of crucial data that affects the stock market and interest rates. Zoom in: The BLS said on Friday that the annual release of consumer expenditures data " initially set for Tuesday " would be "rescheduled to a later date." "We will update users when more information is available," the notice said. The Bureau of Labor Statistics did not respond to a request for a comment. Neither did The Department of Labor, which oversees the statistics agency.