US House votes to end shutdown; Fed officials cautious on December rate cut.

U.S. House Passes Procedural Vote to End Government Shutdown

The U.S. House of Representatives has cleared a significant procedural hurdle, paving the way for a full vote on a funding bill that has already passed the Senate, aimed at ending the government shutdown.

Key Developments

• The House voted 213 in favor and 209 against to advance the bill as the shutdown enters its 43rd day.
• A one-hour debate will follow, leading to a final vote.
• The White House indicated that President Trump hopes to sign the bill tonight (Thursday morning Beijing time).

Slow Return to Normal Operations

While the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is nearing an end, a full return to normal operations may take several days, with some agencies potentially taking a week or longer to resume functions.

• Payroll systems need updates to compensate for wages lost during the shutdown.
• There are backlogs in funding disbursements, loan applications, and customer service cases that need to be addressed.
• Delays in environmental permits, workplace inspections, and government contract approvals have accumulated across federal agencies.

All these activities will commence only after Congress passes the funding bill and President Trump officially signs it.

Timeline for Resumption

The House may pass the Senate-approved temporary funding bill as early as Wednesday evening, but many government agencies might not start operating again until Friday or the following Monday, depending on the bill's progress in Congress.

White House: October CPI and Employment Data May Not Be Released

White House Press Secretary Levitt stated on Wednesday that due to the government shutdown, the employment report and Consumer Price Index (CPI) for October may not be published.

Levitt mentioned during a press briefing: