As the US navigates a minefield with its eyes closed, the global economy holds its breath

The US government, due to the shutdown that has so far lasted for the past 28 days, has ceased publishing economic data. Can you navigate a minefield with your eyes closed? That’s the question faced by the global economy right now as this year lurches toward its end.

We did get the September consumer price index (CPI) a few days ago, for what it is worth, even though Donald Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics last month.