The Bureau of Labor Statistics downplayed a lockdown of its online databases after warning of technical difficulties in the moments before the release of the closely watched August employment report. “Locking the database prior to any release is a normal part of our release process,” BLS spokesperson Stacey Standish said in an emailed statement shortly before 8:30 a.m. Friday in Washington, adding that the report would be published as planned. The report, which was released on time, showed job growth cooled notably last month while unemployment rose to the highest since 2021. Earlier Friday, the agency posted a ... (full story)