Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen says an important bulwark of democracy is the public's right to receive economic statistics from the government that can be trusted.

Yellen was speaking at a ceremony honoring Janet Norword, the first woman to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Carroll D. Wright, who in the late 19th century was the first U.S. Commissioner of Labor.

Yellen credits both statisticians with recognizing the importance of supplying accurate information to build confidence in the government's economic decisions.

Norwood served as BLS commissioner from 1979 to 1991 and died in March. Wright served as Labor commissioner from 1885 to 1905. Both were inducted into the Labor Department's Hall of Honor.