Claudia Sahm on how Private Data can Augment Official Statistics

Claudia Sahm on how Private Data can Augment Official Statistics

From IMF Podcasts by IMF Podcasts

December 18, 2025 · 21 min

About this episode

Claudia Sahm discusses the role of private data in complementing official statistics for monetary policy.

While official statistics compiled by government agencies are still considered the most reliable, policymakers are increasingly using private data to get around their limitations. Claudia Sahm is a former principal economist at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and has studied the growing role of alternative data in monetary policy. In this podcast, Sahm says the immediacy and granularity of private company data should serve as a complement to traditional data, not as a substitute. Transcript : https://bit.ly/3MH31X6 Read the article at IMF.org/fandd

People in this episode

Guest: Claudia Sahm

Topics covered

  • private data
  • official statistics
  • monetary policy
  • alternative data
  • policymaking

Keywords

  • private data
  • official statistics
  • monetary policy
  • alternative data
  • Claudia Sahm

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Federal Reserve Board of Governors, IMF

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