Hurricane Season Is Set To Scramble Americans' View Of The Economy Before The Election

Economic data will likely be disrupted following Hurricanes Milton and Helene.Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty ImagesUnemployment claims have already climbed following Hurricane Helene.Additional disruptions from Hurricane Milton complicate the data collection for October's jobs report.The economy is a top issue for voters, with the labor market especially in the spotlight in the lead-up to the election.Hurricanes continue to devastate communities across the Southern US, and the fallout is already reflected in the latest economic data.As the election nears, it means Americans will have a murky picture of the economy, which consistently ranks as a top issue for voters.It started with initial jobless claims data released by the Labor Department on Thursday, which surged far higher than expected in the first week of October, rising to 258,000 — a 33,000 increase from the week prior.