The U.S. Labor Department just pulled a big stunt - the CPI data for October was directly not released, not even a shadow of it.

The reason is quite absurd. It's not that the data is too ugly to be published, but rather that during the previous federal government shutdown, statistical work came to a halt, and now it's impossible to make up for it. Relevant departments are in a state of paralysis, the data collection chain has been broken, and this is the final result.

The trouble with this matter lies in the timing. The Federal Reserve is set to hold an interest rate meeting in December, and the result is that they can't even get the latest inflation data, which is essentially making decisions in the dark. You tell me, how can this operation not make the market feel anxious?

**The impact on the crypto market can be significant:**

**First point, uncertainty skyrockets.** CPI was originally an important anchor for the market to assess liquidity, but now that anchor is gone. In the coming period, trading will rely purely on expectations and rumors. Volatility will definitely rise, and large funds love this environment – two-way harvesting, with the amplitude of price spikes potentially much larger than usual.

**The second point, key time nodes must be closely monitored.** Data cannot remain empty forever, the focus is around December 18th. If the data released around that time performs well, the pent-up emotions that have been held in will be released, and the market activity will not be small.

**How should retail investors respond during this period?**

Let me say three straightforward points:

First of all, avoid high-leverage contracts if possible. The volatility during data vacuum periods is unpredictable, and opening high multiples is just giving money to the market. Operating with a light position and preserving capital is more important than anything else.

Secondly, do not make random moves with your spot positions. If there is no issue with the overall trend, short-term fluctuations are not a reason to sell. Many people get washed out and cannot chase back in.

Finally, prepare funds for opportunities. Before December 18th, if the market experiences a panic sell-off, it will actually be a good time to build positions in batches.

The more chaotic it is, the more one must remain calm. What we should do now is not to panic, but to clarify our strategies and wait for certainty to appear.