Commerce Ends Advisory Committees for Economic Data Agencies

The Commerce Department has abolished two statistical advisory committees within an agency responsible for compiling vital US economic data such as gross domestic product and the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis Advisory Committee and the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee have both been terminated as of Feb. 28, according to emails seen by Bloomberg News. Websites for both groups show that upcoming meetings have been canceled.

The emails said the Commerce Secretary determined that the purposes for which each group was established “have been fulfilled.” That role is held by Howard Lutnick, and the ...