In a post-truth world, what happens if we cant trust US economic data any more?

Adelaide, Aug 27 (The Conversation) We may already live in the post-truth world, but are we about to enter the era of post-truth statistics? Each month, the US employment report is one of the most closely watched releases on the health of the worlds largest economy. Financial markets can move sharply depending on the strength of the numbers. This month, the jobs report was weak. Hours later, US President Donald Trump called the numbers phony and fired the head of the agency, Erika McEntarfer. It was an unprecedented attack on the governments impartial statistics body, the Bureau of Labor Statistics.