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Here’s how much the federal shutdown could cost the economy — and why the estimate may be too low

Poynter · Louis Jacobson · last updated

The federal shutdown — one month long and counting — has an obvious economic impact for government workers who aren’t receiving paychecks and food aid recipients who could lose their […]

But what about the broader economy? History points to some effect there, too.

In past shutdowns, estimates of lost economic activity have reached into the billions of dollars. In the context of a $30 trillion economy, that’s not a lot. But on the margins, economists say it can have an effect.