Trump Adds to Jobs Day Intrigue Tweeting Excitement for Data

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump added his voice to the group of economists, investors and journalists who will be glued to their computer screens in less than half an hour.

“Looking forward to seeing the employment numbers at 8:30 this morning,” the president tweeted at 7:21 a.m. Friday in Washington.

Some White House officials are typically given access to the monthly employment data the day before the report is released publicly. The report is forecast to show a gain of 190,000 jobs in May and the unemployment rate holding at 3.9 percent.

Princeton University economics professor Alan Krueger, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Obama administration, said he can’t remember the last time a president publicly commented on employment numbers that were still undisclosed.

“They’re treated like state secrets,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio. “So it’s rather surprising.”

The Office of Management and Budget has procedures for government officials who handle undisclosed numbers that require a delay of commenting until one hour after they’re released, Krueger said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brendan Murray in Washington at brmurray@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Brendan Murray at brmurray@bloomberg.net

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